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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
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3 1833 01723 4953
Digitized by the Internet Arciiive
in 2010 with funding from
Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center
http://www.archive.org/details/historyofnorthboOOinalle
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IIIS'J'OlllCAL SKETCH
]^OETHEQEQUGH.
MASSACHUSETTS.
0\iWiu.^Y \m^M
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1T7;^032
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Allen, Joseph, 1 790-1 STo.
84462 Tlistoricnl sketch of Northborongh. By Tlew Joseph
.03 Allen, 1). I). [Boston, \H\V2 !]
10 p. 24""'.
Caption title.
I'ulilislicd aKo ill liistnry i.f ihe town of Marlborough ... bv Charles
Hiulson. Hoston, 1K62 p. i293i-302.
1. Xurthboruu^'h, Mass. — Hist.
r*"*^. 10-31038
'^
20096 Library of Congress CHtLTCAUr^'^^^^-''^
V3
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF NORTHBOROUGH.
BY REV. JOSEni ALLEN, D. D.
NouTiiBOUouGii is the youngest of the four Borough towns, not
having been incorporated till 17GG; altliough it became a precinct,
known as the Second Precinct in Weslborough, twenty-two years
before ; viz., October 20, 1744, O. S., answering to October 31, N. S.
It did not acquire the rank or enjoy the full iumumities of a town till
the commencement of the Revolutionary war, when, by a general act
of the Provincial Congress, all incorporated districts were declared to
be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of towns.
From 1717, when AVestborougli, then including the principal part
of Northborough, was incorporated, till 1744, the inhabitants of the
whole district formed one corporate body, who met together at the
same place, for the transaction of public business and for public wor-
ship, and made appropriations from the common treasury for the
support of the minister, for the purposes of education, for the repair
of the highways, &c., and, with the exception of public worship, this
united action continued till 17GG.
Northborough contains, within its present limits, 10,150 acres —
a little less than sixteen square miles. It is of irregular shape ; its
greatest length being from the nortii-cast to the south-west. It lies
principally in a valley, between the higli hinds of Marlljorough on the
east, of Berlin on the north, and of .Shrewsbury and Boylston on the
west. Tliis interval spreads out to the south, and extends to the hills
of Ilopkiutou and Upton, including a large part of AVestborough.
The river Assabet, which has its sources in the hills of Grafton
and Shrewsbury, runs through the town, forming part of the bound-
ary line on the south-east, between "Westborough and Northborough.
It receives several tributaries in its course, and furnishes water-power
for two cotton-mills and several saw and grist-mills and comb shojis.
Its general course is north and noi-th-east, leading to Feltonvillc and
Assabet, and thence to Concord, forming the north branch of Con-
cord river, which falls into the Merrimac at Lowell. Its Indian name
9
has been retained, which has also been given to a beautiful hill near
the village, formerly called Liquor Hill. Tlie principal streams that
fiill into the Asi^abet in it3 course through the town are: 1. Hop
Brook, ■which, rising in Shrewsbury, crosses the south-west angle of
the town, furnishing water-power for a saw-mill and grist-mill, and
falls into the Assabet soon after that river enters the town. A small
stream, called Ihimmit Brook, which carries the saw-mill of Jonatluin
Bartlett, falls into Hop Brook. 2. Stirruj) Brook, the outlet of Great
and Little Chaimcy Ponds; the former in "Westliorougli, in the vicinity
of the State Kcform School; the latter lying wlioUy in Northborough.
This stream furnishes water-power for Bartlrtt's saw, shingle, and
grist-mills, and falls into the Assabet in the north-easterly j)art of the
town.* o. Cold Harbor Brook, which, rising in Shrewsbury, and
receiving a tributary stream from IJocky Pond in Boylston, furnishes
■water-power for two grist-mills and a saw-mill ; then running tlirougli
Culd Harbor meadow, and crossing the road between the village and
the Old Congregational Church, forming other mill-sites, falls into the
river Assabet, a hundred rods below tlie bridge. 4. Howard Brook,
■which, having its sources in the north-westerly part of the town,
crosses the Clinton road a little to tlie nortli of the New Cemcter'\-,
furnishing water-power for a saw-mill and two or three comb-shops
before it falls into the Assabet.
The surface, though more even tlian that of most of the towns in
AVorcester County, is diversified by hills and valleys, by rocks and
plains, by swamj)s and meadows. The soil is generally fertile, most
of the cleared land producing fine crops of hay and grain, with excel-
lent pasturage, especially on the hills. In the northern part of the
town the land is very uneven, being composed of ledges of rock, prin-
cipally gneiss, lyi"S' '^^ strata, having in some places a dip of 70^ or
80°. This is tlie princijjal rock of this part of tlie State, though the
strata difier widely in difiereut localities, being less regular and less
easily worked in tliis region than in the towns farther south. There
is a vein of hornblende running tlirough the town from north-east to
south-west, crossing the road that leads to Westborough, and forming
a hard ledge about a mile south of the liailroad station, and extend-
ing tlu'ough Cedar Swamp to Tomlin Hill, so called.
In the westerly part of the town, the rocks are of a slaty structure,
and seem to contain a good deal of iron ore, as the rock easily decom-
poses when exposed to the air, having the appearance of iron-rust.
♦George C. Davis, Esq., informs me that from old records which he has seen, it
appears that tlie stream that forms the outlet of Chauncy Pond, was calli'd " Honey
Brook," probably from the swarms of wild bees found in that vicinity. Stirrup Brook,
so called from a hill of that name in Marlborough, falls into Honey Brook below
Bartlett Mills, and gives its name to the main stream.
Clay of a superior (juality is IbuiKl in several localities, IVom which
\t\v<^e (luantitics oi" brick have been matle, many ol' whicli were used
ill building the Cochituate acjueduct. Limestone is alscj found in a
few places, but it has never been worked to any considerable extent.
The principal hills are ^Nlount Assabet, overlooking the village,
clothed on the eastern derlivity by a line grove of oaks — tin; other
sides, with the sinnnut, being cleared and cuhivated ; JJjdl Hill, at
the north-west extremity, containing about 1,00U acres of excellent
land for grazing or tillage ; Kdminid Hill north of the \illage, Cedar
• Hill to the south-east, and Tondin Hill to the south-west, liesides
these, there are other beautiful elevations giving a i)leasing variety to
the landscape, some of which are cleared and converted into pastures,
and others remain covered with a line growth of forest trees.
Besides artificial ponds formed by dams, there are oidy two natural
collections of water worthy of mention. The larger of these is I^ittlo
Chauncy l*ond, near the State Reform School, and Solomon's l*ond,
in the north-easterly part of the town, so called in commemoration of
an Indian of that name who was drowned therein.
The Village, so called by way of distinction, consists principally of
buildings standing on half a mile of the main street, (which runs
east and west, being a part of the old stage route from lioston to
Worcester,) with such other buildings as are in close pritximity to the
Alain street. Besides a goodly nundjer of dwelling-houses, the vil-
lage contains three handsome church edifices, two hotels, four English
goods stores, a large shoe manufactoiy, a two-story brick school-
house, the bank, the post-olhce, the rail-road depot, the engine-house,
and the town-house.
Tlie other jjrincipal roads arc the one leading to Westborough, one
to Feltonvillc, one to Boylston, and two, one cast and the other west
of the old Congregational church, leading to Berlin, Clinton and
Lfincastcr.
Farming, in its various branches, furnishes employment to a large
portion of the inhabitants, though many young men arc engaged in
the manufacture of cond)s and in the shoe business. The two cotton-
mills ou the Assabet have furnished employment to about fifty hands,
and rim two thousand spindles. One of these was destroyed by fire,
Deccndjcr 3, 1800, but will probably be rebuilt. This was the old
cottoiv factory, erected by a company in the time of the last war with
Great Britain, 1814, at a cost of 6oO,Ou(). The other, which is of
brick, was binlt in 1832-.'5, by the brotln-rs I'luneas, Joseph, and Isaac
Davis, Esqs., at a cost of ^;jO,oUU, (including four houses and land.)
It remained in the possession of members of that family till the death
of the last survivor, Isaac Davis, Escj., in l8ol.>. Both factories are
now in the possession of the ^lessrs. I'ratt, of Clrafton.
The mamifticture of combs was iiitrodiicecl into this place by Hayncs
& Bush, about the year 1839, and is still carrie'd on, to a considerable
extent, by the Brothers Wilder & AVarreu, T. Bush, Milo llildreth &
Brothers, and several other iirnis or individuals.
The tanninj,' business, also, is prosecuted to some extent in this
town. It was connnenciMl in the midst of tiie Iviivolutionary war,
about 1778, by Deacon Isaac Davis, lather of Gov, John Davis, con-
tinued by his sons, Isaac and Joseph Davis, Es([rs., and is now owned
and carried on by his grandson, (iiorge C. Davis, Ksq.
The Agricultural Bailroad, which at {in'sent terminates in this vil-
lage, furnishes an easy communication with the market; and, when
completed, will foi-m a desirable connection willi the northern and
uorth-westcrn routes.
Settlement, Population, d)-c.
Some time previous to the close of the seventeenth century, some
parts of the territory now inchnled within the limits of Northborougli
had l)ecu laid out for farms. The first settler, according to tradition,
was John Brigham, from Sudbury, to whom a grant of land was made
in 1672, on " Licor ]\Ieadow Blain," as stated in the deed, and which
we may suppose covered a tract of nearly level ground, extending
north from the foot of Liquor Hill, or jNIount Assabet, so as to include
the site of the saw-mill, which he soon afterwards erected, and of the
log-cabin which he built, near where the saw-mill of Wilder Bush now
stands. Other grants of laud were made in the same year; one to
Samuel Goodeuow, and another to John Rediat, "on the Nepmuck
road that formerly led toward Coneticoat," both of which were proba-
bly within the bounds of this town.
At the time of the division of Westborough into two precincts, or
parishes, that is, in 171 1, the north precinct contained thirty-eight
families. After the separation, measures were at once adopted by the
inhabitants of the north precinct to build a meeting-house and to settle
a minister. After much controversy respecting a location, the ques-
tion was submitted to referees, who fixed on a spot a little to the Avest
of that now occupied by the old meeting-house belonging to the First
parish. The land on which it stands was given to the town by Capt.
James Eager, April 26, 1715, for the use of the inhabitants, " so
long," the deed runs, "' as the said inhabitants of the north precinct
shall improve said land for the standhig of a meeting-house for the
public worship of God."
Before the separation, the inhabitants of the whole district, compris-
ing both towns, at first called " Chauncy," or " Chauncy Village,"
worshiped together in the old meeting-house, which stood near Wes-
son's tavern, now the Water-Cure establishment.
Northborou-^h became an incorporatea District, January 24, ITCO ;
till Avliioh time its inhabitants continiuHl to exercise their ri^^hts as
citizens of Westhorc)u;j;h, receivini,^ their share of the appropriations
made for the yu])port of .schools, for n'pairin;,^ the hij:h\vavs, &c.
From the date of its incorporation to the eoimncncenient of tlio
Revolutionary -war, in 1775, when, as above-mentioned, it assunu'd
the rank of a town, Northborough exercised all the ri,i,dits and enjoyed
all the pvivile;,'cs secured to other towns, excejjting the jjrivileire of
sending a delegate or re])resentative to the "(Ireat and (Jeneral
Court," in this case voting with AVestborongh. It raised nioney lor
the maintenance of public worship, ibr the sujjport of schools, for
repairs on the highways, &(•., and was not backward in furnishing
men to join the several expeditions, undertaken by the Government of
England, for the conquest of Canada.
Three men joined the expedition to Halifax iu 1751 ; two were at
Crown Point in 1755 ; and iu 1758, eight young men i'rom this small
district were with the army under Geu. Abercrombie, at his defeat
before Ticonderoga, one of whom, Capt. Timothy Brighaui, wlio lived
till Gctobcr 5, 1828, to the advanced age of ninety-three, was second
in command under Capt. Sanuiel Wood of this town, (who died Sep-
tember 21,1818, at the age of seventy-five,) of the company of Minuto
]\Ien, which marched down to Cambridge on the memorable IDlh of
April, 1775, and which to(;k part in the battle of IJnnker Hill, on the
17th of June following, when Capt. Wood received a slight wound on
the retreat of the American troops. The wound, though in the back,
was not regarded as a dishonoralde one ; nor was it of so serious a
nature as to prevent the brave captain from attending public worship
the following Sunday, iu his native village, with the rent in his coat
unrepaired.
The inhabitants of this i)reeinct took an early and decided stand in
defense of their rights iu the controversy with the mother country,
which preceded the breaking out of hostilities in 1775. As early as
March, 1773, at a meeting of the citizens called for the purpose of con-
suhing together on public allUirs, it was " Voted, as the opinion of this
district, that it is the indispensable duty of all men, and all bodies of
men, to unite and strenuously oppose, by all lawful ways and means,
such unjust and unrighteous encroachments, made or attempted to be
made, upon their just rights ; and that it is our duty earnestly to
endeavor to hand these riglits down inviolate to our posterity, as they
were handed to ns by our \vorthy ancestors."
The following communication appears in the Massachusetts Gazette
for February 17, 1773 : '<• We hear from ShrcAvsbury, that, one day
last week, a peddler was observed to go into a tavern there, with a bag
containing about 30 pounds of Tea. Information of which boiii"- had
()
nt Northboroiigh, ubout 5 miles (1i::^tallL•e, a Nmnber of Indians went
from the Great Swamp, or thereabouts, seizeil upon it, and committed
it to tlie flames, in the road laciii;^ said Tavern, where it was entirely
consumed." This Avas the same year that the tea was thrown o\er-
board in Boston harbor, by u band of young men disguised as
Indians,
In 1774, the District ])asstMl the following patriotic vote: " 'J'liat we
arc! determined to defend our C'liarter riglits and ]irivileges, at the risk
of our lives and Ibrtnnes, and that the tow n (K'sire the Committee of
Corrcspondi,'nc(> t(j wiitt; to tlicir brethi'en in lloslun and inform them
therof)f." Again, June 13, 177(), a month before the Declaration of
Independence was signed at I'hiladetphia, it was resolved : '"That it
is the miud of this town to be independent of Great liritain, in case
the Continental Congress think proper: and that Ave are ready, with
our lives and fortunes, if in Providence called, to defend the same."
Nor did these spirited resolutions end in idle words. At one time,
five, soon alter, three, at another time, live, at another, seven, and on
one occasion, seventeen men Avere called for from this small town, and
Avere marched hundreds of miles, to mingle in the scenes of war.
Nor Avas this all. Taking into consideration the hardshijJS under-
gone by those avIio had entered into the service of their country, and
especially the losses they had sustained by being paid in a depreciated
currency, the town voted, December 28, 17-Sl), in the midst of that
Avinter of unprecedented severity, to raise their quota of men, (eight in
all, to serve three years,) and to paij and clothe them at their own ex-
pense^ allowing them forty shillings each a month, in hard money, in
adilitiou to their clothes.
The number Avas very small of those who refnscd to embark in the
cause of freedom ; the names of four only being recorded as absentees,
whose estates Averc confiscated near the close of the Avar. And al-
though the people were reduced to the greatest straits, owing to the
:lepreciation of the currency, the want of a circulating mcdiimi, and
the embarrassments of debt, yet almost all proved loyal in the trying
times that folloAved. Only four of the citizens of this town Avere im-
plicated in the Shays Rebellion, as it was called, Avhich had its head-
quarters in the Avestern part of Worcester County, and Avhich had its
origin in these very grievances.
More prosperous times followed the adoption of the Federal Consti-
tution, and Northborough shared with other toAvns in the general
prosperity.
Churches, 3Iinisters, S)'C.
Soon after Northborough had become a separate precinct, viz., in
the Avinter of ntf), measures wi'i-e taken for bnilding a meeting-house,
h'
Avith a view to the pcnnanoiit establislimeiit of public worship. The
first meeting-liousc was Ijiiilt the panic year; and on the 21st of IMay,
-177(^, (). S., answering to June 1st, Kcv. Jolin ]\rartyn was ordaiued
as the minister. j\lr. Martyn was an able and faithful pastor; and
during ]iis ministry of nearly twenty-one years, was highly esteemed
by his people, and by his brethren in ihe ministry. lie died, after a
short sickness, April 30, 17(37, in the sixty-first year of his age. lie
was a native of Boston, and a graduate of Harvard College of the
year 1721.
Kabbi Judah INIonis, a converted Jew, for forty years Hebrew
Instructor in Harvard College, and who had married a sister of Mrs.
Martyn, of the name of Merrit, after the death of his wife in 17G1,
came to live with Jiis brother-in-law, ^Ir. ^Martyn, where he remained
till his death, April 2J, 17G1, at the age of eighty-one.
liy his will, among other becjuests, he left a legacy of one hundred
and iwenty-six pounds, as a fnml, the interest of whieh was to be de-
voted to the relief of indigent Avidows of deceased clergymen, appoint-
ing trustees for apjKjrtiouing it ; Avjio, witli their successors, liave ful-
filled the trust. The fund now amounts to four hundred dollars. He
also gave a silver cup and a large silver tankard, since converted into
two cups, inscribed with his name, for the communion table.
The grave of Rabbi Jiulah IMonis is near that of his brother-in-law,
Kev. Mr. ]Martyn, in the old burying-grouud, and both are nuirked
by monuments, with a{)pi-opriate inscriptions.
On the fourtli of the following November, (17G7,) six months only
after the death of Mr. Martyn, Uev. Peter AVhitney, son of Kev. Aaron
Whitney, of Petersham, was ordained as his successor. ]Mr. Whitney
was graduated at Harvard College in 17G2, and Avas married to Julia
Lambert, of Reading, by Avhoni he had ten children, Avhu li\ed to the
age of nuiturity. jNIr. Whitney's ministry Avas hnig, peacelid and
prosperous, and terminated in his sudden death, February 2U, 181(i,
in the seventy-second year of his life and the ibriy-nintli of his ministry.
The present senior pastor of the cliurcli. Rev. Joseph Allen, Avas
ordained October 30th, 1<S1(), at who~c re(piest, after a ministry of
forty years, a colleague Avas given him, he still retaining his otlice.
Rev. Trowbridge B. Forbush, a graduate of ^leadsille Theological
School, the junior pastor, Avas ordained January 1, iyJ7.
The meeting-house of the First Congregational .Society Avas erected
in 1808, and remodeled in 1848.
Two other ecclesiastical societies have been formed in this tOAvn
Avilliin the last thirty-live years, viz., the Baptist Society, organized
February 3, 1827; and the Fvangelical Congri;galional Society, April
3, 1832. Both are flourishing societies, and are furnished Axith hand-
8
some church edifices, erectetl, the former in 18G0, and dedicated No-
vember 28; that beloiij^iu^ to the Evaiit::clioal Congregational Society
in 1817, and dedicated February 2;5, IMS.
The first pastor of the liaptist churcli ^va.s Rev. AliMizo King. IIi3
successors were Edward Seagrave, AVilliam II. Dahyniiile, Bartlctt
IVase, Artemas INI. I'iper, Tubal Wakefield, and Charles Farrar. The
])reseut incumbent, Ivev. Silas Kipley, t-'utered on his pastorate in
May, 1855.
The pastors of the Evangelical Congregational Church were : — 1.
Samuel Austin Fay, ordained October 17, 18.'32 ; dismissed Octoltcr
I'J, 1836. 2. Daniel II. Emerson, ordained October It), 183G; dis-
missed April 23, 1810. 3. "William A. Houghton, ordained July 5,
1813; dismissed June 11, 1851. 4. Sanuiel S. Ashley, installed
June IG, 1S52.
From March 18-11 to December ]<S-12, the j)ulpit Avas statedly sup-
])lied by Rev. Dr. l>ates, fornu:rly I'residmit of Aliddlebury College,
^\',rmont.
Sc?iooIs, Li/cciims, Libraries, S^-c.
Four years after the act of incorjtoration, that is, in 1770, the town
"was divided into four squadrons, as they were called ; and ten years
afterwards, or in 1780, a grant was made of £1,000, in a very depre-
ciated currency, amounting to only $175, which was iucreased by sub-
se(pieut grant to about 1S5-15, for building four school-houses ; about
$13G for each.
The number of school-districts at present is six, in which schools
are kept, on an average, six months in the year ; the Centre School
luxving two departments, each furnished with a separate teacher. For
the support of these schools the town makes an annual appi'opriatiou
of from Si, 200 to $1,300. The wages of male teachers are i'rom §10
to $50 a month, including board, while tlie wages of female teachers
are from $20 to $25.
All the school-houses but one are of brick ; the one in the centre is
of two stories, and furnished with a bell ; and all are of modern con-
struction, and in tolerably good re})air. The cost of the five brick
school-houses was about $7,000.
The first school committee was chosen April, 1826, agreeably to
an ena(^tment of the Legislature, j)assed iMarch 4th, the same year ;
before which time the minister and the selectmen were the visitors
and sujieriutendeiits of the ^chools. Tlu; i)receding year, 1825, tliis
toAvn chose a Committee of seven members, "on uniformity of school
books," which committee, in May of the same year, made their report,
recommending a list of class books to be used in all the schools in town.
9
to the exclusion of all otliers, -which report ^vivs accepted, and a great
and growing evil was thereby corrected. From this period, (182G,)
more than ten years before the Board of Education Avas cstabli.-«hed,
the school committee made a report to the toAvm, each year, of their
doings, and of the state of the schools, copies of which are contained
iu the town records.
In 18;30, the town voted to introduce Ilolbrook's School Apparatus,
which accordingly was done ; the articles were manufactured by Capt.
Thomas W. Lyon, an ingenious maciiinist of this town. Two ye;irs
tarlier, 1828, the town adopted a systen\ of regulations, which Avas
]iublislied for the nse of the teachers, and Avhich, Avith some modilica-
tions, is still in force.
FewtOAvns iu this Commomvealth, it is believed, in proportion to tlieir
size, have furnished a larger number of teachers during the last half
century than this. A friend has furnished us Avith a list, containing
the names of fifty-seven teachers, male and female, Avhosc education
\',as obtained principally in our public schools, Avho found employment
as teachers in this and other places, during the iirst thirty years of the
])resent century. During the last thirty years, the number must have
been much lai-ger, as more than thirty have graduated at our Normal
Schools, mo<t of them at the one in LridgcAvater. ]Many of them have
found employment in various parts of the country. Some of the teach-
ers Avho have gone from this tOAvn, have continued in the employment
for thirty or forty years, and some are still in active service. Several
attempts have been made to establish a permanent High School in this
j.lace, but hitherto Avithout success. That institution, so much needed,
and so earnestly desired by many, is yet in the future^ but cannot, Ave
think, long be delayed.
Although this is a reading community, there is no large pidjlic
library in tOAvn, the people depending on parish, or private libraries, or
l)ook clubs. A juvenile library, afterwards converted into a Sunday
school library, Avas formed in 1821, replenished liy an annual contri-
bution, and Avhich for many years furnished reading for all the children
in tOAvn, Avho chose to apply for them. Sunday school libraries are noAv
connected Avith the several pari?hcs, or religious societies.
Libraries for young Avomen and for yoimg men liaAC been instituted,
and have flourished for many years ; but, as the })roprietors became
scattered, the libraries Avent to decay, and have ceased to exist. A
free public library, supported by the tOAvn, in accordance Avith a statute
of the CommouAvealth, passed INIay, IST^l, Avould be a great public
benefit, and is " a consummation devoutly to be Avished." The ben-
efits of such an institution Avill be realized in " the good time coming."
A '' Social Library" Avas instituted as early as 17'J2. and was main-
30
10
tamed till its incorporation with the Free Library of the First Parish,
in 1828.
A Lyceum was established in 1828, which, after coutinuing in active
operation for about thirty years, gave place to the " Young Men's
Lyceum," which flourished fur a few years, and Avas then sutft-red to
die out. A Course of Lectures has been given in the Town Hall each
season since the winter of 182G-7, till 18G0-1, a period of thirty-four
years. For many years the lecture Avas followed by a discussion,
or debate, on some subject previously assigned.
The population of the town, fifty years ago, Avas less than 800. It
has more than doubled since, though the increase during the last ten
years has been quite inconsiderable.. In 1850, it Avas 1,535 ; in 18G0,
1,503. The increase in Avealth, during the same period of ten years,
has been much gi-eatcr in proportion to the number of inhabitants. In
1850, the valuation Avas $G25,59G : in 18G0, it amounted to $917,539,
being an increase of nearly $322,000.
The Agricultural Branch Kailroad, Avhich has its present terminus
in Northborough, Avas finished in 1855. The Northborough Bank Avas
incorporated in 1854, Avith a capital of $100,000 : of this institution,
George C. Davis, Esq., is Tresident, and Abraham ^Y. Seavcr,
Cashier.
In 1831, tlie tOAvn, by a unanimous A-ote passed March 7tli, ac-
cepted a munificent donation of $3,000 from Henry Gassett, Esq., a
merchant of Boston, but a native of this tOAvn. Tliis is an accumu-
lating fund, one-sixth of the interest of Avhich, after reaching the sum
of $i,000, is to be annually added to the principal, and the other Aa'c-
sixths to be applied to the support of the minister, for the time beimz,
of the First Congregational JSociety, so long as such Society should
exist, and " maintain a good and convenient house for public Avorship
on or near the spot Avhere the present meeting-house stands." Mr.
Gassett died in Boston, August 15, 1855, at the age of eighty-three.
The ToAvn Hall Avas built in 1822, and a basement story added for
a Vestry in 1833. The to\vn clock Avas a present from the late Jonas
Ball, a short time before his death, in 1847.
\
HISTORY
OF
NORTHBOROUGH, MaSS.,
IN
VARK^US PUBI.ICATIONS AND DISCOURSES 15Y
EEV. JOSEPH ALLEN, D. D.
MiiiisttT uf the Towu.
With a I''ull Index uf Names and Places and all Important Kvent^.
THE 1
NEWRi;
RRY
Lib'-.
>RY
Che.
.•' ■' >
WORCESTER, MASS.
1880.
^^
NOTE.
The pamphlets here brought together in connected form make
the most com]")lete history of the Town of Xorthborough that has
been written. The Rev. Joseph Allen, I). 1).. the author of these
historical sketches and addresses had it in contemplation, it is be-
lieved, to write a full and elaborate history of the town, having
gathered much valuable material for the jiurpose, some of which
is contained herein ; but did not fullll his design. This collection
is therefore invaluable.
The Index which tbllows will be found to embrace the names of
all persons and places mentioned in the se\eral pamphlets, besides
referring to the more important events in the history of the town.
It is hoped that, though designed for a private purpose, it may be
tound useful to individuals and societies possessing the works of
Dr. Allen, and serve as an incentive to others interested in local
history, to make a collection of these scarce publications.
A list of other works containing historical notices of North-
borough will be found on the following page.
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES.
History of the County of Worcester by Rev. I'eter Whitney. 1793.
Half Century Discourse, June i. 1796. By Rev. Feler Whitney,
(iazetteer of Massachusetts. 1828. By Jeremiah Spotlbrd.
American (Quarterly Register, vol. 10. iHzii.
t.'entennial, i'irst Church. 184b. B}' Rev. WillHam .V. Houglituu.
Historical Collections of Massachusetts. 1839. By J. W; Liarber.
History of Worcester County, 1879. Jewett & Co., Boston.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
I. Topographical and Historical Sketches of the Town of
Northborough, with the Early History of Marlborough, in the ^
C'oninionwealth of Massachusetts. Furnished for the Worcester 'jl --^
Magazine. By Rev. Joseph Allen, Pastor of the Church in North-
borough, and Member of The Worcester County Historical So-
ciet)'. 1S26.
II. A Sermon preached in Northborough, October 31, 1841.
By Joseph Allen. On the con"i})letion of the twenty-fifth year of
his ministry in that place.
III. A Centennial Discourse delivered in Northborough. lune
I, 1846, in commemoration of the organization of the h'irst Con-
gregational Church in that place, and the ordination of their fir^t
■minister, one hundred )ears ago. liy Joseph Allen.
IV. Historical Sketch of Northborough. ll)- Rev. Joseph
Allen, I). 1). [Prei)ared for and reprinted from the Mist()r\- ui'
Marlborough by Charles Hudson.]
V. 'I'he Centennial Celebration of tlie Town of Northborough
Mass., Aug. 22, 1866. Address by Rev. Josejjh .Mien, I ). 1).
VI. Half Century Sermon. Order of ]']\ercises and Com-
memorative Discourse at the fiftieth anni\ersary of the Settlement
of Rev. Joseph .Mien, I). 1). as Pastor of the First Congregational
Church and Society in Northborough, Mass. October 30, 1866.
*A
GENERAL INDEX.
Abbott, John E. (of Salem) vi. 26, 27.
Rev. J. S. C, ii. 17, 26.
Adams?- Alpheus, v. 46. Jedediah.
(of Cambridge) i. 48; iii. 29.
John, V. 32.
Address of welcome, vi. 35.
Advice of neighboring ministers, i. 28
29.
.\gricultural Railroad, iv. 4. 10.
.Vlbany, i. 21.
Alcock, John. i. 8, 13, i6.
Alger, Rev. Mr. (of M.arlborough)
iii. 58. 59.
.\llen, Charles, (of Worcester) vi. 37
Edward A. H.. v. 38, 42. Eph-
raim, i. 27. 49; iii. 5. 15. 25. 27;
v. 8. Gertrude E., vi. 34. Isaac,
vi. 36. Rev. Joseph, I). D. i. I.
51; ii. I. 2, 33; iii. I. 32.34.57.
58.63; iv. I. 7; v. 3, 26. 27. 28,
30- 33- 35. 36, 37. 38, 42, 48; vi.
I. 3- 33. 35. 37- 3S; private tu-
tor, vi, 26; Inst sermon, vi. 26;
published worlcs of, vi. 32. Rev.
Joseph II., (of Roxlniry) iii. 58.
59; V. 32, 39. 46, 47; vi. 32. 35.
John. v. II. Lewis, ii. 28; iii. 15
Lucy C vi. 34. Lyman, ii. 28
Samuel, i. 49; iii. 6, 14. 52. T.
P. (of West Newton) iii. 61 ; vi.
34. William F., vi. 34. Rev. Mr.
(of Boston) vi. 18.
Allen's History of Northboro'. iii. 54.
American /^ntifpiarian Society, iii. 59.
Amsden, Isaac, i. 28, 29. John, i. 28.
Thomas, i. 28.
Anamaks, an Indian, i. 9.
Andrews, Samuel, i. 6, 12.
Appendices, i. 55-66; iii. 41-64.
Arctic, the, wrecked, v. 16.
.Vshley, Rev. Samuel S., iv. 8; v. 39.
Asowonit, Edmund, i. 12.
.\ssal5ett or Asabelh, i. 6; iii. 9, 15,
41 ; iv. I, 2, 41. Mount, v. 5, h.
8. River, i. 8, 24, 26, 35. 36.
Axtell, Henry, i. 8. Tlvpmas, i. 28.
B
Babcock. Reuben, i. 42.
Bailey, Rev. 15. IL. vi. 37. Holloway,
v. 28, 29.
Baldwin, C. C, i. I.
Ball. Ceorge S., v. 40. James, i. 35;
iii. 10. 52; V. 8. John. i. 41, 44.
Jonas, iii. 39; iv. 10. Joseph.
V. 48. Nahuni. iii. 61. Nathan,
i- 35; "■ 33; ''•■ 10. 18, 52; V. 8.
Stei)hen. i. 35, 40. 47; iii. lO;
vi. 28.
Ball Hill. iii. 10.
Banister, Christopher, i. 8. John, i. 20
Bancroft. Rev. Aaron, D. U. (of Wor-
cester) vi. II. iS. 26. 27, 36.
Baptisms, number of. iii. 35; vi. 20.
Barnard, Ephraim. i. 46; iii. 12.
Barnes, Edward, i. 28. George, v. 28.
48. Henry. V. 46. 47. John, i. 28.
Leonard, v. 48. Richard, i. 8, 28.
Barre, i. 46.
Barrett. John, i. 8, 29. Thom.as, i. 29.
Rev. Mr. (of Ilopkinton) i. 49;
iii. 4, 16, 24.
Barry. Rev. W. (of Framingham) iii.
57, 58.
I
General Index.
Bartlett, Ashley, iii. 12. Daniel, i.
56; iii. 12. Fianiiliii D.. v. 27,
29, 46, 48. Ciill. i. 26, 31; V. 6.
Henry, i. 29; iii. 12. Joel, i.
45. Jonas, i. 26. 31. y^, 54; ii.
29; iii. 12. 37, 42; V. 0. Jona-
than, i. 27; iii. 10, 52, 53; iv. 2;
V. 7. 28, 29, 46. 47; vi. ^^. Ju-
tham, i. 48; iii. 12. William A.,
V. 17, 28,48.
Bass, Gillani, i. 41; v. 11.
Bates, Rev. Dr.. iv. 8.
B.iylis, Benjamin, i. 28.
Beeman, Ephraim. i. 56.
Belcher, .Vndrew, i. 8.
Bellows, lUeazer. i. 29. John. i. 8.
29.
Beman, Thomas, i. 28.
Bemis, Elijah, v. 48.
Benefactors. ])ul)lic. i. 54; iii. 2^> 39-
Bent, John, Sen., i. 4. Peter, i. 5. 28
Berlin, i. ^^^ 31, 35. 37; ii. 16. 25. 26
32; vi. 27.
Bible presented, vi. 3^.
Bigelow, Edmund, ii. 27. Franklin,
V. 48. Jonas, V. 28. .Sidney, v.
47-
Biglo, John, i. 29, 30. Samuel, i. 29.
Thumas. i. 29.
Billings. .Sylvanus, i. 43. Thomas, i.
52; iii. 52.
Biographical sketches, i. 35, ;^S, 39.
42, 46,47, 54. 55; iii. 17. Uf
Mrs. Jo^ejjh .\llen. vi. 34.
Blanchard, Rev. Mr., (uf Harvard)
vi. 18.
Boggachoag, i. 26.
Bolton, iii. 22.
Boston, i. 3, i8, 20. 21. 40,41 ; ii. 25;
iii. 17, 41. 43. 51. 60; vi. 32, S3.
Boston Herald, account of the Cen-
tennial, V. 32.
Boston Journal, account of the Cen-
tennial, V. 29.
Bouker, Ensign, i. 28, John, i. 29.
Bowker, Josiah, i. yj.
Boyle, , vi. 25.
Boylston, i. 30, 35, 36, 37; ii. 25; iii.
22, 54; vi. 0, 18.
Boys' school, vi. 21.
Bradish, James, i. 29.
Brazer, , vi. 25. *
Breck, Rev. Robert, i. 28, 62, 63, 64.
Brewer, Daniel, ii. 29. Eber, v. 26,
28.
Bridge, Rev. Mr. (of Chelmsford)
iii. 54.
Bridgewater, v. 11.
Brief notices of various persons, i. 57
58, 59. 00.
Brigham, Abraham M., v. 28. Ar-
temas, i. 41; iii. 12. David, i.
29, 34; iii. 13. .^ I. Elijah, i. 46.
Henry, iii. 12. Jesse, i. 39, 48;
iii. 12. 52. Joel. ii. 27. John,
i. 7, 23. 24, 25, 27, 56; ii. 10, 41
iv. 4; V. 6. 7. Jonathan, i. 28,
39. Joseph, i. 31. Josiah, i. 31
Levi. i. 41. 44, 46; iii. 13. Nath-
aniel. V. 28, 29, 46; vi. 32. Sam-
uel, i. 25, 29; v. 6. Thomas, i.
25. 28; iii. 41; V. 6. Timothy, i.
3^- 39-41, 53; iv. 5. Winslow,
iii. 13. Rev. Mr., (of Taunton)
iii. 58, 59.
Brimsmead, Rev. William., i. 9, 10.
60.
Brooklield. i. 26.
Brookline, ii. 32.
Brooks and streams, iv. 2.
Brown, Ezra, ii. 27. Rev. Mr., (of
Sherborn) vi. 26.
Bruce, Roger, i. 29.
Bulkley, Peter, i. 12
General Index.
vu.
Bummit Brook, iv. 2.
Bundy, (J. W., v. 47.
Bunker Hill Battle, ii. 35; iii. 15; iv.
Bush, Abseil, i. 29. Samuel, i. 28.
T., iv. 4. Warren T.. v. 26, 28.
48. Wilder, iv. 4; v. 28, 46, 47.
Butler. John L., ii. 29.
Cambridge, i. 15. 16, 17, 39; ii. i, 26.
35; iii. 24; v. 3; vi. 1. 34.
Cambridge Divinity School, vi. 25.
Capen, Lemuel, vi. 25.
Carruth, John. i. 39. 46; iii. 6.
Catholic spirit of Rev. Joseph Allen.
iii. 34.
Centenarians, i. 38.
Centennial Celebration, account of.
iii. 55. Expense of. v. 44. Ori-
gin of, V. 26.
Centennial Discourse, iii. 3-39- ''Re-
porters, V. 39. Song. v. 43.
Century Sermon, vi. 22.
Channing, William Elllery, influence
of, vi. 6. 16.
Chapin, Caleb T., v. 46, 47.
Charge of the venerable Roliiiison, iii
50-
Charles I., i. 5.
Charleston, S. C, vi. 34.
Chauncy, President Ilarv. Coll., v. S.
Mr., i. 24.
Chauncy Great Pond, i. 26; iii. 41;
v. 4, 6. Meadow, i. 24. Village,
i. 24, 32, 34; iii. 42; iv. 4; v. 8.
Chesboro, .Mrs. F. M., vi. 3.
Chesbro, George L., v. 28.
Choir, of iifty years ago, vi. 12.
Leader, ii. 27; vi. 27.
Church, admissions to, i. 53; ii. 19;
iii. 35; vi. 20. Covenant, iii. 5
23. 43. Gathered, iii. 5. His-
tory, iii. 33. 35. Not sectarian,
iii. 49. Organized, v. 8. Rec-
ords burned, i. 53; iii. 35. Ex-
tract from records, ii. 31. With-
drawals from, ii. 32, ^^.
Church Organ, vi. 27.
Church, David, i. 28.
Churches distracted, iii. 15.
Churches, Ministers, &c., iv. 6, 7.
Cider at meeting house raising, i. 48.
Clark, Samuel, v. 23. 27. 28. 47, 48.
Rev. .\lr., (of I'rinceton) vi. 18.
Classmates of Rev. Dr. Allen, vi. 34.
Clinton Courant. account of the Cen-
tennial. V. 36.
Colburn. Henry G., v. 28.
Cold Harbor. Brook, i. 35; iii. 9; iv.
2. Bridge, i. 36. Meadow, i. 24;
iii. 41 ; V. 6.
Collation, free. v. 29.
(Jollege Graduates, i. 46.
Colman. Rev. Benjamin, (of Boston)
i. 54; iii. 44.
Committee, of Correspondence, i. 41 ;
iv. 6. to build meeting house, i.
52. to call Rev. John Martyn.
iii. iS. on new plantation, i. 5.
34. to lay out township, '\. 16.
on (^.arrisons, i. 29. to fix boun-
daries, V. 5. on Centennial Cel-
ebration. V. 26, 27, 28.
Concord, i. 3, 27, 41 ; iv. 1 ; v. 4.
Congregational Church, schisms in,
ii. 16.
Congregational usage, ii. 6.
Continental army, i. 42.
Cook, C. C, V. 47.
Coram Farm, v. 7.
Cotton, Rev. Mr., (of Boylston) vi.
18.
Council to ordain Mr. Whitney, i. 51
General Index.
County Conventions, i. 44.
County, of Middlesex, i. 12. of Wor-
cester, i. 3. 4.
Cow Commons, i. 8, 9.
Crane Meadow, i. 8; iii. 41.
Crawford, John, ii. 30. John B., v.
28, 48.
Cromwell, Oliver, iii. 5.
Curley, (or Kerly) 15. Sen., i. 29.
James, i. 29.
Currier, Benjamin, v. 48.
C'ushing, Rev. Mr., (of Shrewsbury)
i. 49; iii. 4. 5. 22, 28. 29.
Cutler, Ebenezer. i. 43.
D
Uabney, , vi. 25.
Dabol, E. P., V. 47.
Dalrymple, -Samuel, i. 27. Rev. Wil-
liam II., iv. S.
Damon, Rev. Mr., (of Lunenburg)
vi. 18. 25.
Uanfortii, Thomas, i. 4. 5, 15. 16. 17,
19; V. 5.
Davis. Ezra, (of Cambridge) vi. 26.
George C, iii. 62; iv. 2. 4, 10 ;
V. 7. 26, 28. 29. 30. s^, 36, 47,
48; vi. ^2- J-^'- Henry G., (of N.
\ .) v. 41. Deacon Isaac, i. 27.
37' 44- 47- 5-< 54; ii- 28, 29; iii.
»•• 37. 59; i^- 4; V. 19. 32, 34,
37. l.iaac, (of Worcester) i.47;
V- 31. 34- 37. 46- James, iii. 12.
Hon. John. i. 47; ii. 28, 33; iii.
59; iv. 4. John C.. ii. 28. J.C.B.
iii. 58. 59. Josejih, i. 37; ii. ;^^; iv
4. Phineas. i. 33. 37, 44, 47, 52;
ii- 33- 3'J- ^Villiam S., v. 32, 34, 38
Day, Rev. Ceorge E., (of Marlboro')
iii. 64. [udson, v. 48.
Day of Humiliation and Prayer, iii.
28.
Deacons, i. 53, 54; ii. 29; iii. 36.
To dine witli jiastor, ii. 29. Of-
fice of, honorable, ii. 29.
Deaths, ii. 21 ; iii. 3b.
Deatli rale, average, i. 38.
Dedham, i. 16. West, \i. 26.
Deputies to Ceneral Couit, i. 16.
Dinsmore, David, i. 38.
Discourse of Rev. Dr. .Mien, \i. 7.
Dorchester, i. 15; v. 3.
Double Pond i\leadow, i. 25.
Dowsing, (or Townsend) Joshua, i.
49; iii. 5.
Dunlap, Mrs. Jane, iii. 36.
Eager, Abraham, i. 28. Bezaleel, i.
40, 41; iii. 12, 27, 45, 52. Cap-
tain, i. 40. Deuna, \. 48. Eber.
i. 39. Erancis, iii. 13. James, i.
26, 29, 43, 47. 48, 54; iii. 9, 27,
52; iv. 4; V. 7, 8. James, Jun.,
i. 26; iii. 10, 52. Zac. i. 28.
William, i. 52; ii. 36; iii. 13.
Early Lessons in Ceograpliy and His-
tory vi. 31.
Early Settlers, v. 7.
Ecclesiastical, i. 47; ii. 3.
History, changes in. ii. 8.
Eddy. Elijah, v. 28. 36.
Education, v. 10. 12. 32.
Education. Liberty and Independ-
ence inseparable, v. 32.
Eliot. Re\ . Andrew, (of Boston) iv.
44. John. i. 15, 19, 43. Charles,
vi. 25.
Emerson. Rev. Daniel IL, iv. 8.
England, i. 3.
English. 'I'. P).. vi. 25.
Estates, confiscated, i. 43.
Evangelical Congregational Church
of Northborough, ii. 16, 17, 32.
General Index.
Everett, Edward, vi. 25.
Excise Tax, 1866, v. 47.
Experience, relations of, ii. 26.
Extract horn private journal of Dr.
Allen, vi. il.
Fairbanks, Eli, ii. 27.
Family School for Boys, vi. 21.
Farrar, Rev. Charles, iv. 8.
Fast Day appointed, i. 48.
Fay, Abraham, v. 46. Adam, i. 39;
iii. 12. .\sa, i. 25. 27. Asa B.,
V. 28. David, i. 28. Dexter, v.
II. Elijah, ii. 28. Gershom, i.
25. 27. 29, 31, 38. 49, 56; iii. 6.
10. II, 42. 52; V. 7. ("lershom,
Jan.. i. 26; iii. Ii. 42; v. 6.
John, i. 27; V. II. Joseph T., v.
27, 48. Lewis, i. 25; ii. 32; v.
28, 29. 46. 47. Nahum, i. 25.
44.47, 54; ii. 28. 29, 31. 33; iii.
10. 37. 49^ 59; V. 7, II, 37.
Mrs. .Mary, v. 6. Paul. iii. 11.
Rev. Samuel Austin, iv. 8. Silas,
i. 49; iii. II. Thaddeus, i. i6,
31, 38, 41, 54; iii. 6, II, 12. 42;
V. 6, II. Thaddeus. Jun., iii. 42.
Timothy, i. 31, 40; iii. 11, 52.
Warren, i. 47. Deacon (of Ber-
lin) ii. 26. Children of Gershom
Senior, i. 27.
Fayerweather, Charles M., v. 48.
Females petition for leave to build
pews, iii. 53.
Field, Joseph, vi. 25.
First Baptist Society, ii. 32.
First Congregational Church and So-
ciety, vi. 37.
First Deacons, i. 53.
First (Jristmill, v. 8.
First Parish, Xorthhorough, ii. 17, 32
First Parish Clerk, i. 38.
First Precinct, officers chosen, iii. 27,
F'irst Settlers, v. 4, 7.
I'iske, Horace, iii. 9. Horace. S. v. 28,
29. 47. John, i. 26. S. M., v. 48.
Fisher, Lieutenant, i. 4. 5; v. 5.
Nathaniel, v. 26, 28. 29, 46, 47.
F'lagg, Benjamin, ii. 27. Seth, v. 48.
I'lood. Benjamin, i. 39.
Forties. Deacon, (of Westboro') ii. 26
Forbush. Jolin, Jonathan, Samuel
and Thomas, i. 29. Rev. Trow-
bridge B., iv. 7; vi. 20. 32.
l''ort Meadow, i. 16.
Fort at Marlljorough. i. il.
F'ramingham. i. 36; iii. 57.
Foster. Joseph, (of Cambridge) i. 54;
vi- ?>}>■
Franklin, lienjamin, i. iS. Samuel.
i. 18. William Temple, i. 18.
F"rench Wars, i. 39, 40.
I'Vothingham. O. B., vi. 12. 25. 27.
Fulling .Mill. iii. 15.
Gage. Asa, v. 48. General, i. 30.
Gale, Cyrus, i. 44; v. 24. 28, 29, 34,
39, 46, 47. Cyrus. Jun.. v. 27,
28, 47. Fred. W., (of Worces-
ter) iii. 59; V. 16. Walter, v. 28.
29- 30. 32, 33. 35. 39. 47. 48.
Gale, Great, in N. E.. vi. 26.
(lamwell, Samuel, i. 13. 52.
Gannett, Rev. Dr., (of Boston) vi. 5.
15. Thomas B., vi. 25.
Gardner, Henry, i. 41. Rev. Mr..
(of Stowe) i. 49; iii. 4, 16.
Gaschett, Henry, v. 11.
Gasset, Henry, (of Boston) i. 46; ii.
17; iii. 38, S3; iv. lO; v. 42.
Joel, i. 26j iii. 42.
Gassett Fund. ii. iS, t,},.
General Index.
(iarrison, William IJoyd. vi. i6.
(jarrison Houses, i. lo, 26, 28.
Gates, Silas, i. 6. Simon, -i. 28.
General Court, petition to, v. 4.
Gerry, Governor, vi. 26.
(iil)son, Samuel, v. 48.
(iilman, , vi. 25.
Glazier, John, v. 28.
Gleason, James, i. 29.
(Jotldard, Rev. Mr., (of Leicester)
iii. 43.
Cioodnow, Asa, i. 25; iii. 13. 41.
David, i. 56; iii. 11. Jonathan,
i. 56; iii. II. Mary, v. 6. 17;
capture of. i. 31; iii. 11. 42.
Samuel, i. 31, 56; iii. 11,41,42;
iv. 4; V. 6, 8. Samuel, Jun.. i.
26, 28, 56; iii. II. Tliomas, i. 5,
45; iii. 13, 41, 52; V. 5. Thom-
as, Jun., i. 8.
(jood Templars, vi. 38.
Gookin, Daniel, (of Cambridge) i. 9.
15, 16, 20, 21. Nathaniel, i. 9.
.Samuel, i. 9, 25, 26.
Golden Wedding of Minister and
People, vi. 7.
(ioss, Rev. Mr., iii. 28.
Gott, Dr. Benjamin, i. 38.
(Graduates from Normal Schools.
number of, v. 1 1.
(Irafton. i. 20. 21, 26. 35; iii. 41; iv.
I ; V. 4.
Great Chauncy Pond, v. 8.
Greele, S., (of Boston) iii. 59.
Green, John, i. 25. Nathan, i. 41.
(ireenleaf. Old Father, v. 31.
Greenwood, vi. 24.
Greenville, S. C, v. Ii.
Gristmill, First, i. 27; iii. 15; v. 8.
Grififin, Charles, i. i.
Groton, i. 21.
Grout, Seth, i. 44. 52; ii. 28.
Guests at Centennial, number of, v.
31-
H
Iladley, i. 21.
Hale, Rev. F. K., iii. 58, 60.
Half Century Sermon, vi. 7-24.
Hall, Rev. Mr., (of Sutton) i.49; iii.
4. Rev. F. H., vi. 3, 37.
Hancock, Rev. Mr., (of Lexington)
iii. 5.
Hapgood, Thomas, i. 29. (of Shrews-
bury) i. 47.
Hardwick, i. 27.
Harrington. Daniel, i. 29. lyler, v.
28, 48.
Hart. James, i. 45.
Hartford, v. 3.
Llarvard, iii. 17, 43.
Harvard College, iii. 17, 24. 26. 31 ;
V. 8; vi. 10, 26.
Hassanamesitt, (or Grafton) i. 20, 21
iii. 41 ; V. 4.
Hastings, Calvin, iii. 14.
Htithorn, Major, i. 11.
Haven. Joseph, vi. 25. Samuel F.,
(of Worcester) iii. 58, 59.
Hawes, Luther, i. 26.
Haynes, John, (of Sudbury) i. 47.
Haynes and Bush. iii. 11. 41; iv. 4.
llnyward, Gideon, iii. 53. Cornet
.Simeon, iii. 52 .
Pleads of families, i. 56; iii. 13.
Heath. Gilbert, v. 28.
Henchman, David, (of Boston) i. 55
Henderson, (of Tenn.) vi. 26.
Henniker, N. H., i. 46.
Heywood, Daniel, (of Worcester) i.
47-
Highways maintained at public
charge, iii. 30, 53.
General Index.
XI.
Hildreth, Milo, iv. 4; v. 27, 28, 29,
33^ 3-1, 37. 47; vi. 3^-
Hill, Rev. Aloiizo, U. O., vi. j, 34.. 36.
Milliard, Timothy, vi. 25.
Hills oi .VoithborouL^li, iv. 3.
llinckinan, rhoiiias, i. 12.
Historical Discourse, vi. ;^2.
History of Nortliborough, i. 3. Dr.
Allen invited to tinish, v. 37.
Hodgkins, S. E., v. 48.
Holhrook, Lowell, i. 25.
Holgraph, William, iii. 49.
Hollo. vay, Adam, i. 2&, 27, 29; iii.
10, 42; v. 7. William, i. 27,48,
54, 55; iii. 10, 28, 5-2; v. 7.
Holmes, Joseph, i. 8.
Hooker, Mrs., v. 3.
Hop Brook, iv. 2.
Hopkinton, iii. 4, 16, 24.
Houghton, Rev. William A., iii. 62,
64; iv. 8; v. 42.
House for Minister, i. 9; vi. 28.
How, Vbraham, i. 8, ^o. .^dam. i. 5.
Daniel, i. 29. Eleazer, i. 27, 29.
Isaac, i. 28, 42. James, i. 28.
John, i. 4, 5, 9, 28. John, Jun.,
i. 8. Jonathan, i. 2S; iii. 12.
Josiah, i. 5, 29. Rev. F^erley, i. 5
Samuel, i. 8. Ste[)hen, i. 26; iii.
12, 42. Idioaias, i. 5, 29.
Howard, Gideon, i. 27, 39. Simeon.
i. 27, 56; iii. 9, 10; v. 7.
Howard Brook, iii. 41; v. 7.
Howe, C. M., V. ^^.
Howe's Century Sermon, iii. 24.
Hudson, Seth, iii. 52.
Hudson, Town of, v. 5.
Hudson Pioneer, account of the Al-
len Seaii-centennial, vi. 37.
Hunt, Jeremiih, ii. 28; v. 28, 29.
John E. and Joseph, ii. 28
Hurlburt, vi. 25.
Hutchinson, .\.nn and Capt. Edward,
i. 01.
Hymn, original, v. 42; vi. 3. Sung
at Ordination of Dr. .\llen, ii. 27
vi. 4.
I
Incorporated Districts declared to be
entitled to all priveleges of towns
iii. 27.
Indians, i. 5, 10, 12, 14. 15. 16. 17.
19. 20, 21, 23. 30; iii. II, 14, 42;
iv. 6; v. 17.
Influence of a casual remark, vi. 9.
Instruments for choir accompaniment
vi. 27.
Intoxicating Drinks, action of the
town concerning, vi. 31. Ser-
mon on, vi. 30.
"Italy," sweet notes of, ii. 27.
J
Jackson, Edward, i. 5, 16, 19.
Jewett, Dr. Henry A., v. 28. 47, 48.
Johnson, Daniel, i. 28. John, i. S;
V. 28. Jonathan, i. 18, 29, 32.
Joseph, i. 28. Dr. J. J., v. 27.
Nathaniel, i. 28. Solomon, i. 8.
William, i. 29.
Josiin, Nathaniel, i. 2S, 29.
Journal, private, of Dr. .\llen. Ex-
tract from, vi. 11.
fubilee. Day of, ii. 6.
Justices of the Peace, i. 44.
K
Kady, James, i. 28.
Kerley, Henry and William, i. 8.
Keyes, James, i. 34, 44, 52; ii. 35.
John, i. 29. Silas, i. 3;^.
King, Rev. Alonzo, iv. 8. Peter, i. 8.
Thomas, i. 4. T. Starr, vi. 32.
General Index.
King I'hillip's war, i. 9.
Kinney, Henry, v. 28, JJ.
Kiikland, President of Harv. Loll., ii.
20; vi. 25, 27.
Lanison. Rev. D. 1'"., v. 27." 30. 36,
48; vi. 37.
Lancaster, i. 10, 21, 30, 31, 37, 39;
ii. 25 ; iii. 4, 5. 22; \i. iS.
Land Grants, iii. 41 ; iv. 4; v. 6.
Lawyers thought dangerous to the
rights and liberties of the jicuple
i. 44. a nuisance, v. ly.
Lectures by Ur. .Vllen. ii. 10, 29.
Leicester, i. 44, iii. 43.
Lenard, Moses, i. 29.
Letter, of Re\ . (Jeo. E. Day, iii. 64.
of Ivcx'. \V. A. Iloviglitun. iii. 63
04. of Rev. John -Martyn, iii. 45.
Letter of hnitatiun, v. 28. to Re\-.
W. A. Iloughtou. iii, 63.
Leverett, (ieorge, i. 21. President,
of Ifarv. Coll.. i. 54.
Lewis, t ieorge T., v. 48.
Lexington and Concord, i. 41 ; ii. 35;
iii. 5; \i. 26.
Liberal Lhrislianity, vi. 17.
Libraries, i. 45; ii. 11, 12. 30.
Licor .Meadow Plain, iii. 41; v. 6.
Lincoln. Rev. Calvin, (nfllingham)
vi. 4, 26. fairiis, iii. 41; v. 31,
42. Le\i, \i. 28. W'.. i. 1.
Lines, in nieuiory of Mr.^. .\llcn. vi.
34. upon the deatli of an infant,
•'■ 35-
Liquor Hill. iii. 9, 41; iv. 2; v. 6.
Liverniore. Rev. A. A., (of Keene)
iii. 58; letter from, v. 40. 41.
Jonathan, i. 46. 49, 53; iii. 6, 10.
18, 36. 37, 52, 58; V. 8,9,40.
Long Meadow, i. 16.
Longe\ity of the people of Noith-
borough, v. 9.
Lurd t harles 1 low, i. 5.
Luring, Rev. .Mr., (of -Sudbury) i. 49
iii. 4.
Lovejoy, .Vnios, v. 47. 1''. L., v. 28.
LowcU, iv. I.
Lid^ew arniness and indiflerence jiain-
ful, vi. 30.
Lunenjjurg, ii. 25; \i. 18.
Lusher, Lleazer, i. 5, lO, 19.
Lyceum, origin of, ii. 10.
Lyon, 'I'honias W., i. 37; iv. 9.
[,yman, Theodore, (of W'althani) vi.
26.
M
.Mainard, Simeon, i. 29.
.Mandell. Rev. Win. A., (of Cam-
britJge) V. 42.
Marlborough, i. 1,4. 5. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
15, 16. 17, 26. 27. 30, 31, :i2; ii-
25; iii. 12, 41, 54, 59; V. 5, 6,
8. T,^. plantation broken up ai.
i. 23.
Marriages solemniiied, ii. 21 ; iii. 35.
Marshall, Frank, v. ^]i.
^Lartin, .Vdam, i. 28. Thomas, i. 28.
Martyn. Eilward. (of Boston) i. 40;
iii. 17. 26. Rev. John, i. 26, 37,
39, 48. 49, 52, 54; iii. 5, 9, 16.
17, 18, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31,
35. 45. 47. 4^. 49. 55. S^< i^'- 7;
V. 6. 8. iS. 32; \i. ^;^. Chiklren
of, i. 49. (.)rdination of i. 48.
John. i. 24; iii. 42. 53. Michael,
i. 2b, 43; iii. 24.
Mason. Haniel, iii. 25. Thadileus, vi.
27-
Massachusetts Colony, i. 3, 12.
I^Iassachusetts Sjiy, account of Ceu-
tennial, v. 35.
Gkneral Indf.x.
Mather, Dr. Increase, i. 54, 55.
M.Uhew, John, i. 29.
Maynaitl, Daniel, i. 26. 29. David.
i. 26. 1). W., V. 48. Henry li.
V. 48. Ilollon. i. 52. John, i.
4, 29. Josepli, i. 28. Lyman, v.
48. Steplien, (of Westborough)
i. 40. William, i. 38; v. 28.
Mayo. Rev. A. D.. v. 32. 38.
McAllister, John. i. 49; iii. 6. 25, 52.
Mclntire, John II., v. 7, 27. 46, 47.
48.
Meiltield, i. 10. 21 ; ii. 25. 26; vi. 27.
Meetinj,' house, i. 9, 10. 11, 47, 48.
49; ii. 20. 34; iii. 4, 8, 32, 51,
52, 53; iv. 47; vi. ^i.
Mellen, Rev. Jolin, (of Sterling) iii.
43-
Merrick, Pliny, ii. 33.
Merrimac River, v. 4.
Middle Meadow, i. 24.
.Miles, S. J., V. 47.
Mills and Manufactures, i. 37; iv. i,
3'
Milton, iii. 36.
Minister, authority of, ii. 6. Of the
Town, ii. 5; vi. 18. Salary of, i.
48, 50, 51; iii. 30. how received,
vi. 28. insignia of office, vi. 28.
fears and misgivings of. vi. i 4.
Ministerial, l-'xchanges, ii. 15, 16.
call accepted, iii. 18. Inter-
course, ii. 5. Lot, i. 8. Statis-
tics, vi. 20.
Ministers, of the Bajjtist Church, iv.
8. of the Kvangelical Congre-
gational Church, iv. 8. of Marl-
borough, i. 60, 65. to give ad-
vice, i. 48. remedy for disor-
dered nerves, vi. 14.
Ministry, of Dr. .\llen, its aim, vi. 9.
Evangelical, vi. 15.
Ministry, pleasant, ii. 22; vi. 15. fif-
ty years and antecedent:;, vi. 8.
-Minute .Men, i. 41; iii. 30.
.\li\ter. lienjamin. i. 2S.
Money \oIed. to i)uild schoolhouse,
i. 4=;. to pay war expenses, i. 42
Monis, Rabbi Judah, i. 54. 55; iii. 24
25; i\'. 7. Crave Stone Inscrip-
tion, i. 55.
Monumental Inscription, to Rev. Mr.
IJreck. i. 62, 63. to Rev. .Mr.
.Martyn, iii. 26. to Rabbi Judah
Monis, i. 55. to Isaac Davis, ii.
28.
Moore. L. L., v. 47. Warren E. v. 48
Morrill. Samuel, i. 28.
Morse. Jt)nathan, i. 28. Joseph, i. 29
Samuel, i. 29, 39. Rev. Mr. (of
lioylston) i. 22. 28. 29; iii. 54.
Mortal .Sickness, i. 37, 38; ii. 34.
Munroe, .\.brahani, i. 40. 46; ii. 29;
v. II. Isreal. i. 46. John V..
iii. 13.
.Myrick, Rev. Henry L.. v. 30, 36; vi.
32.
N
Natick. i. 11, 12, 14.
Xew Iiraintree. i. 20.
Xewhall, Cephas, ii. 27; vi. 27.
Newton, .\braliam and Henjaniin, i.
29. David and lulward. i. 10.
Lphraim, i. 29. Lbenezer, Kze-
kiel and Hannah, i. 10. James,
i. 10, 29. Jacob, i. 10. John, i.
8, 10. 28. John. Jun.. i. 29.
John I'"., V. 28. Jonathan, i. 10.
29. Josejjh, i. 7. 29. Josiah, i.
10. Martyn, iii. 14. Moses, i.
10, 28. Moses, Jun.. i. 28. Mer-
cy, i. 10. I'aid, i. 10, 44, 53; iii.
14, 37, 49. Richard, i. 5, 10.
XIV.
Gknkkal Indkx.
Newton, Kicliard W., v. 28. Solo-
mon, i. 10. Tliomas, i. 28. Wil-
larcl, i. 10.
Newtown, v. 3.
Nipmuck Roail, iii. 41; v- 3-
Novcross, Etluaid, v. 4S. F.. W. v
28. S.W., V. 20. 46.
Normal Schools, v. 1 1.
Noilliampton, i. 27.
Northhoiougli, i. 1, 4< 7^ "< -4- -'J
32; ii. 1, 4. 0, 16, 28; iii. 17. 18
42; V. 5, 7. 10, II, 20; vi. I, 8,
12, 26, 32, 37.
Antiquity ui, iii. 41. r.uiindarics
of, i. 33; iv- 1- ^'^i' History, i.
39. l)c-5Ciiplion of, i. 35. jO. 37;
iii. 2. 3. Incorporation, i. 49;
iii. 30; iv. 5. Historical Sketch
iv. I. Irregular in form, i. 35;
iv. I. I'alriotic action, iii. 42;
iv. 6. Population of, i. 37; iv
10. Separate I'recincl, i. 32; iii
6, 10. 27; iv. 1.
N'orthborough liank. iv. 10.
Lyceum, vi. 21.
North I'reeinct, v. 8.
Xorthrup, Kev. 1'.. L'>.. v. 39.
Norton, .\mlre\\ . vi. 25.
Notes, i. 59-^<^; i>- -S- -^'- ^7' -^- "^
31, 32, 35^ 34; iii- 43- 47- S'- 53
54; vi. 25, 20, 27, 28. 29, 30, 31
33-
Oakes, (or Oaks) (ieorge and John.
iii. 13, 52. Nathaniel, i. 26, 28,
38. 50; iii. 9, II, 28. 41; V. 6.
Children of. i. 26.
Ockoocangansett, i. 6. 9. 15. 16. 20;
iii." 43; V. 5.
Old l-'ather (ircenlcaf. anecdote of.
V. ;i.
Old Tener Money, value of, iii. 30.
Old World visited, vi. 30.
Ordaining Council, i. 49. 50. 51; n.
4, 20; iii. 4; vi. 27.
Ordination, of Kev. John Mailyn. i.
48. of Kev. I'eier Whitney, iii.
31, 54. of Uev. Joseph Allen,
i. 51; ii. 4; iii. 32; ^'- '2. 27;
eiloil to prevent, ii. 4- "'" ^^'^'^■
J. r. Forhush, vi. 32.
Ordination a rare occurrence, vi. 12.
Origin of Meadow Names, i. 24.
Osgood. Kev. .Mr. (of Sterling) vi. 18
I'alhey. John C... v. 3.
I'ansh Records destroyed, v. 9.
I'arker, John H., v. 48.
I'arkn.an, lireck. i. 4^- Kev. .Mr. i.
24, 32< 49. 53; "'• 4, 22, 28, 29.
42, 43, 44- 4S. 54- Biographical
Sketch of, i. 32.
I'arnienter. Asa and Joel, iii. 42-
I'arlmg Word of Kev. Dr. Allen, iii.
3y-
Pastors. Convention of. iii. 43.
Patterson, Arte and Prigham, ii. 28.
Peace Society formed, vi. 30.
Peace Congress, vi. 30.
Pease. Rev. Partlett. iv. 8.
Pensions to Kevolulionary soldiers, i.
43-
Perry. John, v. 48.
Personal Narrative of Dr. Allen, vi.
9, 10.
Persons assigned to the tjarrisons, i.
28. 29.
Peters. I.ovett, i. 25. Jelhro, 1. 4>-
Petersham, iii. 31, 54-
Petition to Ceneral Court, i. 4.
Pcverly. Horace L., v. 28.
Phenonon\en, Strange, v. 3.
General Index.
Philadelphia, v. 1 1.
Pierce. C'yni-i, vi. 25. Jacob, i. 26.
Dr., {o( Brooiiline) ii. 32.
Pilim. (i)r Pitmee) Andrew, i. 12.
I'iper. Rev. .\rteinas M.. iv. 8.
Plantation incorporated, v. 5.
Plimpton, Peter, i. 28.
Poem by T. W. Valentine, v. 15.
Pond, Sylvanus B., v. 42.
Pond, dreat Chauncy, v. 4, 6.
Population of .\orthborough in 1816,
ii. 8; vi. 20.
Pound, voted to build, iii. 53.
Pratt, John, i. 29.
Precinct Clerk, iii. 15.
Prentice, Rev. Mr., (of Lancaster) i.
49; iii. 4, 5, 22, 28. 29, 35, 61.
Rev. Mr., (of (-^irafton) iii. 43.
Prentiss, Dr., (of Medlield) ii. 26.
Thomas, vi. 25.
Prince, Rev. Thomas, (of Boston) iii.
5'-
Princeton, vi. 18.
Procession. Centennial, number in, v.
34-
Proprietors' Meeting, i. 7. 8.
Protest of Dr. .\llen, ii. 32.
Public Worship, maintenance of, i. 9
Public 1 louse, ii. 29.
Puffer, Dr., (of IJerlin) ii. 26, 32; vi.
27. 36.
Pulpit Exchanges, ii. 26; vi. 18.
Puljiit and Parish, care of, relinquish-
ed, vi. 22.
Putnam, Simeon, vi. 25.
Quarter Centennial Sermon, ii. 3-23.
(Question Hooks, series of, for Sunday
Schools, vi. 19.
Questions in the Old and New Tes-
tament, vi. 31.
Quincy, ii. 25; iii. 54; v. 11, 32; vi.
27, 28.
R
Rand. Rev. Mr., i. 48; iii. 29.
Randlett, Nathaniel, v. 28, 48.
Rawson, ICdward, i. 5, 6, 39.
Rediat, John, i. 8, 26; iii. 41; iv. 4;
v. 6.
Reed, David and William, vi. 25.
Regulations concerning settlers of
new plantations, i. 7.
Reminiscences of early ministry, ii. 7.
Resolutions upon the death of Mrs.
Allen, vi. ^2-
Revolutionary War. action 'of Town
concerning, i. 40, 41.
Rice, .Vdonijah, i. 30. Albert, iii. 12
Amos, i. 39, 41.42, 47. .Anson,
iii. 61; V. 27. 28. ii, 37. 47.
Asaph, i. 27, 37, 52; ii. 27, iy,
iii. 9. Ashur, i. 30. Benjamin,
i. 8. 28, 39; ii. 28, 31 ; iii. n. Ca-
leb, i. 29. 35. Qharles.'i. 29; v.
41. Curtis. V. 47. 48. CTA.. V.
47. Daniel, i. 29. Denna, v. 48.
I'^.benezer, i. 46, 48. Kdmond._
i. 4, 5, 29, 30, 55. Ensign, iii. 52
I'2zra, iii. 12. Henry, i. 5. Jacob,
i. 28, 39, 46; iii. 9. 28, 52. Joel,
i. 39, 41. Joseph, i. 8, 10, 12,
13, 28. Josiah, i. 30, 35; iii. 12
Joshua, i. 28. Luther, i. 47.
^Lltthias. i. 39,. 48, 49, 53, 54,
55; iii. 6, II, 1 8, 36, 37, 52.
Nahor, killed by Indians, i. 30.
Nathan, i. 42. Pelatiah, i. 54;
iii. II, 12, 52. Peter, i. 29.
-Samuel, i. 8. Samuel L, v. 48.
Samuel J., v. 28. Seth, i. 30, 44
54; iii. 14, 37, 52. Seth, Jr. i. 41.
Simon, i. 46. 48.
General Index.
Rice, Simeon, i. 39, 56. Silas, i. 30. iii.
14, 53. 'rhoiiias.'i. 8, 30; sons cap-
tured by Indians, i. 30. '1 iinotliy,
i. 30; iii. 14. /erubahel, i. 39.
Rider, John, ii. 28.
Ripley, Rev. Silas, iv. 8.
Roads, &c. i. 36.
Robinson of Leyden, vi. 17.
Rock Hill, V. 3, 4.
Rockwood, Rev. E., ii. 26. 27, 31.
Roxbury, i. 27; iii. 15. 58; v. 8.
Ruddocke, John, i. 3, y.
Rugi^, Eenjaniin, i. ^S.
Rutland, ii. 28.
Rutter, John, i. 8.
Salary of Minister, i. 48, 50, 51 ; iii. 30
Salem, i. 48. 50, 51 ; ii. 25, 26; iii. 30;
vi. 26. 27.
Sanborn. Rev. George K.. v. 27, 30,
36.
Sanders. Dr. (of Medheld) ii. 26; vi.
27-
Savage. . vi. 25.
Saw Mill, i. 17, 25. 26; iii. 1 1. 41 ; iv.
2. 4; V. 7.
Sawyer. Thomas, (of Lancaster) i. 30
School returns, i.45; iv. 9.
School House, first, i. 19, 45.
.School .Master, I'lv^l. i. 45; iii. 53.
" " " of .Marlborough,
i. 18.
School Teachers of Northboro' v. 10,
Scliool Houses built, ii. lO; v. 10.
Schools, annual appropriation fur. ii.
10. LUrection of, ii. 9. Visited,
ii. 9. Sujijiort of. V. 10.
Seagrave, Rev. Edward, iv. 8.
Season, unj^ropitious, vi. 26.
Seaver. Abraham W., iv. 10; v. 26.
27, 29, 46, 47. Edwin S., (of
lioston) v. 38. Samuel, Sen. ii.
29; iii. 37. Samuel, v. 3. Wil-
liam v. 1 1, 28, 29, 32. 38; vi. ;^^.
Seccun.b, Rev. Mr. (of Harvard) iii.
43-
Second I'recinct of Westboro' v. 8.
Semi-(enteni)ial Celebration, acct. of
vi- 35-
Seminary, the, v. u.
Sermons on the use of intoxicating
drinks, vi. 30.
Services, order of, at .Semi-Centen-
nial, vi. 3.
Settlement and population, iv. 4.
.Sever, Joseph and Thomas, i. 42.
Shaw, J. .\. vi., 25.
Sheperd, Jacob, i. 49; iii. 6.
Sherman, George and Hemy, v. u.
John, i. 29. 34.
Shippen. Rev. Rush R., vi. 37.
Shrewsbury, i. 20. 35. 47, 51, 63; ii.
25. 26; iii. 4. 5. 22. 54; iv. I, 2,
5; vi. 18.
Shrewsbury IJand. v. 29, ^;^.
"Signed oft" from First Parish, ii. 27.
Signers to the Church Covenant, i. 49
Siuglctary. Richard, i. 39.
Slavery, relating to. v. 39. Preach-
ing on by I)r. Allen, vi. 17.
Smith. George, i. 31. George L., v.
48. Rev. Mr., (of Marlboro')
iii. 54.
Suuthborough. i. 4. lo; iii. 42; v. 5.
.SouthwcMth. Charles, iii. 13.
Speculative ISelief, difference in lost
sight of, ii. 31.
S|)encer, i. 30.
■'.Spirit's invitation," ii. 35.
.Sprague, Rev. William ]>., i. 63.
Statistical facts, ii. 19.
Sterling, i. 32, 39; ii. 27; iii. 43; vi.
18.
General Index.
Stevens, Samuel, i. 28. , (of E.
Cambridge) vi. 27.
Steward, Elecksander. iii. 29.
Stewardship, account of, ii. I.
.Stirrup Meadow, iii. 41.
Stirriip Meadow liroolt, i. 8. il, 31.
30; iii. 2.
Stone, liliphalet. i. 39. James, i. 27.
John. V. 27, 47. Lyman, v. 47.
Samuel, i. 39.
Stoney Brook, i. 8.
Stoughton, i. 21.
Stow, Samuel, Sen. and Thomas, i. 28
Stow, town of, iii. 4, 16.
Stratton, Joseph, i. 29. Levi. v. 28.
William, iii. 12.
Sudbury, i. 3. 5. 7, 10, 25, 47; iii. 15;
iv. 4; V. 4, 5.
Sudbury River, i. 6, 21; iii. 4.
Sumner, Rev. Joseph, D. D. i. 51; ii.
26; iii. 5; vi. iS. Mrs. Lucy, i.
51; iii. 54.
Sund.iy Evening Services, vi. 21.
Sundiy .School, organization of, ii. 10
30; vi. 19, 32. Celebration, ii.
30. Paijlic Examination, vi. 32.
Surface. Soil, &c. i. 35.
Surry, N. H., i. 5.
Sutton, iii. 4.
Tavern, first, i. 26.
Tax Payers, in 1749 and 1752, i. 56.
57; iii. 52. Heaviest 1S66. v. 46.
Tax. U. S., 1866. V. 47.
Taylor, John. i. 27, 43, 48. Widow
Sarah, i. 29. Thomas, iii. 25.
Tea. destruction of, iv. 6.
Tennent, ILiel. iii. 24.
Tenny. Gi.leon. i. 54.
Tempels. Is. i. 28.
Text, of Q-iarter Centennial, ii. 3.
Of llalf-Cenlury Discourse, vi. 8
Fir.it preached upon. ii. 4. Of
iJr. .VUen's lir.-<t Sunday after or-
dination, vi. 13.
TewUaijury. i. 11, 12, 36.
I'hatch Meadow, i. I'l.
'I'hayer, Rev. Dr., (uf Lancaster) vi.
II. iS, 36.
'•The Day of Small Things," iii. i.
Thorndike. Hon. Israel, (of Boston)
vi. 26.
Three Corner Meadow, iii. 41.
Thurston, Levi S., v. 28.
Ticonderoga, battle of, i. 39.
Toasts, regular, at centennial of the
town, v. 31. 32, 37.
Tokkol)\\oui])ait. Daniel, i. 15.
Tomblin. Hezekiah. i. 27, 56; iii. 11 ;
v. 7. Is.'iac. i. 27. 2y, 56; iii. 1 1 ;
v. 7.
Tomblin Hill, iii. 11 ; iv. 2; v. 7.
Topsileld. vi. 26.
Torrey. William, i. 6.
Town Clock, iv. 10.
Town House built, i. 53; iv. 10.
Town, Minister of, vi. iS.
Town Orficers of Northboro' 1866. v.
48.
Town and Parish, one, vi. 13.
Town Vote on Province Tax, i. 41.
Townsend, Joshua, iii. 25.
Townsend, town of, i. 42.
Trees, when, planted, v. 14.
Trials of the Minister, vi. 29.
Tuckerman, instituted the ministry to
. the poor, vi. 16.
U
Unitarian Epithet, ii. 31.
Unitarian Ministers, vi. iS.
Uxbridge, iii. 43.
xvni.
General Index.
Valentine, Elijah F. and Klmer, ii.
28. Geo. G., V. 26, 27, 29, 48;
vi. 33. T. W., V. 15, 28, 31, 33.
34, 36, 37. Brothers, v. 11.
Value of Old Tenor .Mcney. iii. 30.
Vestry buill, ii. 20, 34.
Votes passed relaiiiig to the Meeting
House, iii. 51, 52.
Votes against settlement of Rev. Jo-
seph Allen, ii. 26.
W
Wait. Joseph, i. 28.
Waketield, Rev. Tubal, iii. 62; iv. S.
Wales. England, iii. 12.
Walker, President, (of Cambridge)
vi. 12. 27. J. B.. V. 47.
Walthani, ii. 25; vi. 26.
Wamesit. i. 11, 12.
Wamesquit. John. i. 12.
Ward, Gen. Artenias, i. 59. Widow
Hannah, i. 29. Increase, i. 28.
Joseph, i. 28. Obediah. i. 8. 28.
Oliver, i. 28. 56. Richard, i. 8.
Samuel, i. 11. 29. 'I'homas, i. 27
29. 56. William, i. 4, 29. 34.
Ware, Henry. Sen. ii. 26; vi. 25, 27.
34. Henry. Jr., vi. 18. 19. 25.
William, vi. 26.
Warren. ISenjamin, ii. 28. Eliphalel.
i- 39-
Warwickshire, i. 4.
Water Power of Xort iborougli. v. 4.
Watertown. i. 3. 5. 16, 35; iii. 13, 36;
V. 3, 4, 8.
Watts' Psalms and II\mns used, ii. 2,
Webb. Rev. Mr. (of I'xbrdge) iii. 4
Weddings attended by Dr. .Vi.en, \i.
20.
Welcome, address of, vi. 35.
Wesson, Silas, i. 32.
Wessonville. iii. 1 1.
Westborough. i. 3, 4, 7, 11. 24, 26,
30, 32; ii. 25, 20, 27, 31; iii. 4,
0. 11, 13, 14, 22, 27. 31, 35, 41,
53, 54; v. 4, 5, 7. 8.
Incorporation of, i. 32; v. 8.
First Minister of. i. 32.
WestbuTough Band, v. ^;^.
\Ve.-,t Buyl.-,ton, vi. 11. 10.
Western, town of. i. 27.
Westiield. i. 21.
Wctherslield, v. 3.
Whccltr, Daniel, (of Ilardwick) i. 27
Jolin. i. 2-j. Joseph, i. 26, 27,
34. 56; iii. lO; v. 8.
WheelocL, Samuel, i. 28.
Whipsuppenicke, or WhipsufTeradge,
i. 6, o, 9. 16; iii. 43; v. 5.
White, Rev. John, (of West Dcd-
hani) vi. 26.
Whilefield. Rev. Geoige. iii. 15, 23,
43-
Whitman. Nathaniel, \\. 25.
Whitney, Rev. Aaron (yf Petersham)
i. 30; iii. 31, 54; iv. 7. Benja-
min, i. 29. Re\-. Peter, i. 26. 37
41. 43, 40. 50. 53; ii. 4. 27, 49,
S5. 58; HI. u, 31. 32, 35. 48; iv.
7; V. 6; vi. II, 12. T,2,. Ordina-
tiwn of, i. 50. 54. Pubiibh'-d
writings of, i. 51 ; iii. 54.
Madam, v. 7; cje.-.th of. vi. 28.
Rev. I'eier, (of Quincy) i. 46; ii.
-0; iii. 54; \i. 27, 28. Willian;.
vi. 28.
Whitney's History of Worcester Co..
i. 6, 24.
Wilder cV W arren, iv. 4.
Willard, Joseph. \i. 26. Sidney, vi
Wiliiauis, .\braham, i. lO. 12, 13. Gcl.
H., iii. 01 ; v. 7, 27, 29, 48.
General Index.
Williams, Stephen, i. 25, 27, 44, 52;
ii. :ii, 36; iii. lo.
Wilson, Rev. E. B.. vi. 36.
Wilton. N. H., i. 46.
Windsor, Conn., v. 3.
Winslow, Governor, iii. 50. John, i.
i. 47.
Winsor, F. G. & R. II., v. 46.
Witherby, Thomas, i. 29.
Wood, Abraham, iii. 15. David F.,
V. 46, 47, 48. Isaac, i. 18, 29.
Samuel, i. 42; ii. 28, 35; iii. 15;
iv. 5; v. II, 26, 28, 29. Samuel,
Jr. v. 2S. 47. 48.
Woods. John. i. 5, 28. 29.
Woodstock, i. 21.
Woodward. T. C, v. 27, 48.
Wolves and Rattlesnakes, infested
the Town, i. 7.
Women of tlie generation, iii. 16.
Worcester, i. 26. 36, 47; ii. 17. 25. ^}
V. 8; vi. II, 1 8, 26, 28, 37.
Worcester .Vssociation, ii. 30; vi. 18.
3'-
Worcester Catechism, ii. 10; vi. 31,
Worcester County, History of, iii. 54
lIi-.torical Magazine, i. i; iii. 5,
42; vi. 32.
Worcester Gazette, account of the
Centenniil, v. 34.
Worcester. Noah. vi. 16.
Word of Encouragement, vi. 9.
Worthington, i. 27.
Wyman, John C, (of Troy, N. Y.)
v. 32. 34. 38.
Y
Young Women, in uniform of whitt.
vi. 12.
Youth, tirst instructed, iii. 13.
TOPOGRAPHICAL AND IIISTORICAl.
SKETCHES
TOWN OF NORTHBOROUGIT,
WITH THE
EARLY HISTORY OF
IN THE
©ommoniucaltf) of JHassacfjuscttJi,
FCRNISHED FOR THE
WORCESTER MAGAZINE.
S7 REV. JOSEPH AI.LEN,
PASTOR OF THE CHURCH IN NORTHBORoCGII, ANU iMK.IIBER OF THE
WORCESTER COPNTY IIISTORKAL SOCIETY.
WORCESTER:
rUBLISHED BY \V. LINCOLN & C. C, BALDWIN.
CHARLES GRIFFIN PHINTER.
182G.
HISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGH.
ci
NoRTHBOROUQH, though One of Ihe youngest and smallest incor-
porated towns in the County of Worcester, was, for nearly 50 years,
prior to the date of its incorporation, a part of VVestborough ; first
as part of an undivided whole, and then as a separate precinct or
parish. This carries us hack to the year 1717, before which time,
V,''estborough itself, including Northborough, belonged to the large
and ancient town of Marlborough. Northborough then, as being
included in Marlborough, may lay claim to considerable antiquity.
Marlborough was incorporated in 1660, only about 30 years after
the commencement of the Massachusetts Colony. The stream of
emigration may easily be traced back from this, which was for ma-
ny years a frontier settlement, bordering upon the unexplored wil-
derness, to the fountain head. The settlement in Marlborough was
commenced four years before the date of its incorporation, by emi-
grants from Sudbury, which was older by about 20 years than
Marlborough, having been incorporated in 1638. The next step
carries us back to Concord, which was purchased of the natives
and incorporated in 1635.*
The next step brings us to Watertown, where a settlement was
made in 1630, the same year that Boston began to be built. It was
in this year that a large number of emigrants arrived from England,
which served greatly to enlarge and strengthen the Colony, then
in its infancy. The oldest town in the Massachusetts Colony is Sa-
^ lem, where a settlement was commenced in 1628, ei»ht year^ after
the landing of our fathers at Plymouth.
* 1. Ma?s. Hist. Col. Vol. I.
1
>
1 HISTORY OF NORTHBOROOcn.
Thus we see that within the short space of 30 years from the
first planting^ of this Colon3\ the wilderness had been explored, and
a permanent settlement effected, by our enterprising forefathers,
in the ancient town of Marlborough, which then included Westbo-
rough, Southborough, and Northborough, now within the limits of
Worcester County.
It will not therefore be improper to prefix to the history of this
town some account of the first settlement and early history of the
Plantation at Rlarlborough.
The following petition was presented to the General Court
in May, 1656.
"To the Hon. Governor^ Dep. Governor, Magistrates and Depu-
ties of the General Court now assembled in Boston."
"The humble petition of several of the Inhabitants of Sudbu-
ry, whose names are hereunder written, humbly shewoth ; that
whereas your petitioners have lived divers years in Sudbury, and
God hath beene pleased to increase our children, which are now
divers of them grown to man's estate, and wee, many of us, grown
into years, so as that wee should bee glad to see them settled be-
Ibre the Lord take us away from hence, as also God having given
us some considerable quantity of cattle, so that wee are so streigh-
tened that wee cannot so comfortably subsist as could bee desired ;
and some of us having taken some pains to view the countr}' ; wee
have found a place which lyeth westvvard, about eight miles from
Sudbury, which wee conceive might bee comfortable for our sub-
sistence :
"It is therefore the humble request of your Petitioners to this
Hoo'd Court, that you would bee pleased to grant unto us ( )
eight miles square, or so much land as may containe to eight miles
square, for to make a plantation.
"If it shall please this Hon'd Court to grant our petition, it is
farther than the request of your petitioners to this Hou'd Court,
that you will bee pleased to appoint Mr. Thomas Danforth or Lies-
ten"* Fisher to lay out the bounds of the Plantation ; and wee
shall satisfy those whom this Hon'd Court shall please to employ in
it. So apprehending this weighty occasion, wee shall no farther
trouble this Hon'd Court, but shall ever pray for your happinesse.'"
Xdmond Rice, -^Thomas King, ^Villiam Ward,
John How,* John Bent, Sen'r. John Maynard,
♦According to a tradition handed down in the family, the first English
~ ?rson that came to reside in Marlborough, was John How, son of a How, of
\V- itertown, supposed to b« John How, Lsq. who came from Warwickshire, ia
IlISTORV OF NORTIIBOROUGH. 5
I
John Woods, EJujirJ Rice^ John RuJdocke,
llichard Newton, Peter Bent,' " Henry Rice,
Thomas Goodenoiv.
"That this is a true copy of the original petition presented to
the General Court, May, 1056, lelt on tile and thereto compared, is
Attested, per Euvvaud Rawson, 6'tc'/-(/."
To this petition the Ibllovving' answer was made.
At a General Court held in Boston, May 14, 1756.
"In answer to the petition of the aforesaid inhabitants of Sudbury,
the Court judgeth it meete to grant tbem a proportion of land of
six miles, or otherwise, in some convenient form equivalent there-
unto, at the discretion of the committee in the place desired, pro-
vided it hinder no former grant, that there bee a Towne settled
with twenty or more families within three years, so as an able min-
istry may bee there maintained. And it is ordered that Mr. Ed-
ward Jackson, Capt. Eleazer Luslier, Ephraim Child, with Mr.
Thomas Danforth, or Liesten"' Fisher, shall bee, and hereby are ap-
pointed as a committee to lay out the bounds thereof, and make
return to the next Court of Election, or else the grant to bee void.
"This is a true copy taken out of the Court's Books of Records,
as Attests Edward Rawson, Secr'^/."
England, and who, as appears from a record in the possession of Mr. Adam
How, of Sudbury, also a descendant of John, was himself the son ol Joha
How, of Hodiahull, and connected with the family of Lord Charles How,
Earl of Lancaster, in the reign of Charles 1.
Mr. How came from Watertewn to Marlborough, built a cabin a little to
the east of the Indian Planting field, where his descendants lived for
many generations. By his prudence and kindness, he gained the good will
and confidence of his savage neighbors, who accordingly made him the um-
pire in all their differences.
The following is related as one of the verdicts of this second Solomon.
Two Indians, whose corn fields were contiguous, disputed about the posses-
sion of a pumpkin, which grew on a vine, that had transgressed the limits of
the field in which it was planted. The vine was planted in one field ; the
pumpkin grew in the other. The dispute grew warm, and might have led to
serious consequences, had it not occurred to them to refer the matter in de-
bate to the arbitration of the wiiitc man, their neighbor. Mr. How is accord-
ingly sent fi)r, who after having given a patient hearing to both parties, directs
Ihem to bring him a knife, with which he divides the pumpkin into two equal
parts, giving half to each. Both parties extol the equity of the judge, and
readily acquiesce in the decision, pleased, no doubt, quite as much with the
manner in which the thing was done, as in admiration of the justice of
the deed.
The descendants of John How are very numerous in Marlborough, and in
the towns in the vicinity. There are 28 of the name of How on the list of
voters, in Marlborough, for the present year.
Col. Thomas How was a son of the above, who, for many years, was one
of the leading men in the town. John How died sometime before 16ij6, a»
appears by a deed of his son Josiah to Thomas, of that date. Rev. Perley
How, of Surry, N. H. was a desceuduut »f .'ului. uiid of Col. Tboiuns Mow.
G HISTORy OF nORTHBOROUGH.
The riantation was accordingly soon commenced in the neigh-
borhood of Ockoocangansctt, (the Indian name of the hill back of
the old Meeting House in Marlborough,) and thence extending to
Whipsuppenicke, (a hill about a mile southeasterly of the former,)
and the neighboring parts. By this name, Whipsuppenicke, or
WhipsufTeradge, as it was sometimes written, the English Planta-
tion of Marlborough was known, till its incorporation, in 16G0.
Of the Indinn Plantation at Marlborough, called, i>om the hill
abovenamed, Ockoocangansctt, some account will be given here-
after.
A plan of the English plantation was made in May, 1667, by
Samuel Andrews, surveyor, which was approved by the Deputies,
17th 3mo. 1667. VVm. Torrev, Clerk.
Consented to by the Magistrates. Edward Rawsox, Sec'y.
This plan was made on parchment on a scale of two inches to
a mile, and is now in the hands of Mr. Silas Gates of Marlborough.
The plantation contained by admeasurement 29,419 acres, which,
with the 6000 acres reserved for the Indians, of which we shall
presently speak, amounted to 35,419 acres. The Indian planting
field, on Ockoocangansett, the hill back of where the old meet°
ing house stood, was included within the bounds of the English
plantation, and formed a square containing about two hundred
acres. From the northwestern angle of this field the boundary line
between the Indian plantation on the east, and the English plan-
tation on the west, extends three miles north, seven deo-rees
west, to a point a little beyond the river Assabett*. From this
point the boundary line runs seven miles west, twenty five de-
grees south, (cutting off what is now the northwest angle of
Northborough, and which forms what are called the JVcw Grants.)
Thence five miles south-southeast, to the south west extremity of
the plantation; thence two miles and three-fourths of a mile east,
nine degrees north, leading into Cedar swamp; thence southeast,
two hundred and fifty six rods on Sudbury River; thence two miles
and three quarters, due east; thence two miles and one hundred
and twenty rods northeast, thirteen degrees north ; thence three
*Thi3 name is written and spoken variously by different persons. In the
report of the Canal Commissioners presented at the recent session of the Le-
gislature of this State, it is written Ekebeth, and is supposed to be a corrup-
tion o( Elizabeth. By some aged persons, it is called Elztbelh; in Whitney's
Uhi.^ssabct. In the earliest records of Marlboroush, however, it is almost
uniformly written with a final h, Asabt(h or Assabelh. If either of the two
last letters are omitted, it should probably be the t. In which case the name
would be Assabth.
HISTORY OF NOR.THBOROUCH. 7
hundred and forty eight rodd north, seventeen degrees east ; Ihenco
one mile and three fourths of a mile due north, which reaches to
the Indian line ; then three miles, due west, on this line, which
completes the houndaries of the English plantation.
It would seem, from the ahove account, that the proprietors ex-
ceeded tlie limits of their grant by more than 6000 acres. We are
not to conclude, however, that they acted fraudulently in this bu-
siness; since it appears that the draft of the plantation *vas present-
ed to the General Court for their acceptance, and approved by the
Deputies and Magistrates.
The form of the plantation was evidently regulated by a regard
to the surface and soil. Thus the boundary lines- on the north and
west included all the meadows on the Assabeth, west of the Indian
plantation, and the extensive intervale, including several large
meadows and cedar swamps, which runs through nearly the whole
extent of Northborough ami Westborough. The boundaries on the
south and east were also fixed with the same sagacity and foresight.
It is said that the meadows, at the first settlement of our country-,
produced much larger crops of grass, of a much better quality, than
at the present day. This circumstance, together with the dillicul-
ty of subduing the uplands, will account for tha eagerness manilest-
ed by the first settlers to possess a good suppl}' of meadow grounds.*
The first meeting of the proprietors of the English plantation,
was holden 25th of the VIKh month (September) 1656.t
In 1657, the following eight names are found among the propri-
etors, in addition to the thirteen original petitioners above men-
tioned, making up the number of twenty one.
* it appears from the early records of .Marlborough, that for many years
after its iucorporation, the town was greatly infected by wolves and rattle-
snakes.
In a single year, (1683) the town paid a bounty for no fewer than Iwtnty
three wolves, hi 1680, the following record was made. " Voted, to raise
thirteen men to go out to cil rallclsnakts, eight to Cold Harbour-ward, and so
to the other place they cal boston, (now the northwestern corner of West-
borough) and five to Stooey Brook-ward, to the places thereabout. John
Brigham to cal out seven with him to the first, and Joseph Newton four with
him, to the latter, and they were to have two shillings apiece per day, paid
out of a town rates."
+ " Sept. 25th. 1656. Upon amitinge of the petitioners apoynted to take
sum course to lay out the plantation granted to several inhabitants of Sudbu-
ry, it was ordered that all that doe take up lotles in that plantation shall pay
all publique charges that shall arise upon that plantation, according to their
house lottes and to be resident there in two years or set in a man that the
town shall aprove one, or else too loose their lotts ; but if God shall tako
away any man by death, ht have liberty to give his lott to whom he will."
t> iiiSTOiiy or NOiniiLOiioi'GH.
William Kcrly, Samuel liice, - Polcr King,
John Kodiat, John Johnson, Christopher Banister,
Solomon Johnson, Thomas Kice, , ••
" At a meeting of the proprietors of this plantation the 26th of
Xbcr, (December) 1G59.
" It is ordered that all such as lay clayme to any interest in this
new plantation at Whipsnderadge, (hy the Indians called Whipsup-
penicke) are to perfect their house lots by the 25lh of March next
insueing, or else to loose all their interest in the aforesaid planta-
tion."
Agreeably to this order, thirty eight house lots, including one
for a minister, and one for a smith, were set ofl", and granted to the
projjrietors, the 2Gth of Nov. lUGO.
Besides the persons already mentioned, the following had house
lots assigned to them, at this date.
Joseph Rice, Richard Ward, John Barrett,
John How, Jr. Benjamin Rice, Jos. Holmes,
Henry Kerley, John Bellows, bamuel How,
Richard Barns, Abraham How, Henry Axtell,
Andrew Belcher, Tho. Goodenow, Jr. John Newton.
Obediah Ward, John Rutter,
These thirty eight house lots, amounting in all to 992.J acres
consisted of some of the best and most commodious tracts of land in
Marlborough. They contained from tifty to fifteen acres each, ac-
cording to the interest of the several proprietors in the plantation-
The principal part of the land, which was not taken up for house
lots, with the exception of Chauncey, (now Westborough and North-
borough,) was left common (called Cow Commons) to be disposed of
by subsequent grants.
The following boundaries were assigned to the Cow Commons in
1662.
" From John Alcocks line (now known by the name of (he
Farm) to Stoney Brook ; thence up the brook to Crane Meadow,
and so along to Stirrup Meadow Brook, and to be extended as the
Brooke runs to Assibathe River, and down the said river till it
comes to the Indian line. This is, and shall remain a perpetual
Cow Comaion for the use of this town, never to bee altered with-
out the consent of all the inhabitants and proprietors thereof at a
full meeting; exce|)ting four score acres of upland this town hath
reserved within the aforesaid tract ot bind to accommodate some
such desirable persons withall as need may retpure, opportunity
present, and the town acce})t."
HISTORY OV NOUTIIBOnOUGII. 9
A vote was passed at a meeting of the proprietors in 1705, to
divide tiie Cow Commons among the original proprietors and such
as had acquired rights in the plantation, in [)roportion to tlie lust
grants.
So early as 1G60, it appears that measures had heen adopted by
the proprietors of Marlborough, for the maintenance of public wor-
ship ; and that Mr. William Brimsmead, alterwards ordained as
their pastor, was employed as a preacher.
In the following year, they voted to build a house for their
ir.inister; and, in 1GG2, the frame of a house, with the house lot on
which it stood, were granted to Wm. Brimsmeail, Minister.*
In 1G62, a rale was made of 12 pence per acre upon all house
lots for buihiing a Meeting House ; and again, in 1GG4, of o]- pence
per acre for finishing the house. This house, which was after-
wards burnt by the Indians, stood on the old common, within the
limits of the Indian planting field, which, Hutchinson says, "caused
great disputes and discouragements. "I"
It appears from the following record, that the land on which
the Meeting House was erected was afterwards purchased of an
Indian, whose title to the land was probably disputed by his breth-
ren of the Indian Plantation.
" 1663, April 4. Anamaks, an Indian of Whipsuppcnicke, for
divers reasons and consideration**, sold to John Ruddock and John
How, for the vise of the town of Marlborough, the land that the
Meeting House now stands on — also the land for the highway on
the fore side of said Meeting House, and so upon a square of ten
feet, round about the said Meeting House." This land, with the
addition of half an acre purchased in 1G88. of Daniel, Samuel, and
Nathaniel Gookin, sons oiMaj. Gen. Daniel Gookin, of Cambridge,
constitutes what is now the old common, the whole of which did
* The house built for Mr. Brimsmeatl stood on the lot of land west of Ock-
oocangansett, not far from the spot on which the old Meeting House was af-
terwards erected. There is a tradition that Mr. Briuismcatl's house was set
on fire by the Indians in King l^hilip's war, and that the flames communicated
with the Meeting House, which was the occasion of its being burnt.
It may be interesting to the antiquary to learn the form and dimensions of
a dwelling house erected more than 160 years since. It was 30 ft. by IS ft.
and I'A ft. high between the joints. It had four windows in front, and two
at the west end. It had besides two gables in front, 10 ft. wide and 8 ft.
square, (projecting 8 ft.) with two small windows on the front side of the ga-
bles. It was built by contract for Jj\5, to be paid in corn ; one third wheat,
one third rye, and one third Indian corn. Wheat at As. 6d. rye at 4s. and
Indian corn at 3s. per bushel. For the payment of this sum, a rate was made
e»f 7^ pence per acre upon all house lots in the Plantation.
t Hist. Col. 1. p. 167.
10 HISTORV OF NOKTHBOUOUGH.
not come into the possession of tlie town till 1706, when the half
acre above mentioned was purchased by Abraham Williams and
Joseph Rice, "lor (he use of tiie town, to set a Meeting House on."
Till 1675, nothing serious appears to have occurred to inter-
rupt the prosperity of the inhabitants of this flourishing settlement.
But their prosperity received a severe check in the war which
now ensued. After the destruction of Lancaster, (Feb. 10, 1676,
O. S.) a party of (he enemy directed their course through Marlbo-
rough, where they committed some depredations, on their way to
Sudbury and Medfield, in the latter of which places nearly 50 dwel-
ling houses were burnt, and 15 persons lost their lives.
A second attack was made upon the English settlement at Marl-
borough, on the 20lh of the following month, which, though no
lives were lost, was attended with more disastrous consequences.
It was Lord's day ; and the inhabitants were assembled for public
worship, when the preacher, the Rev. Mr. Brimsmead, was inter-
rupted in the midst of his discourse by the appalling cry, that the
Indians were advancing upon them. The Assembly instantly dis-
persed ; and, with a single exception,* succeeded in reaching the
neighboring ganison house in safety before the enemy came up.
But though they defended themselves, they could afford no protection
to their property, much of which was wasted or des(royed. Their
Mee(ing House and many of their dwelling houses were burned to
the ground; their fruit trees hacked and pilled ; their cattle killed
or maimed, so that marks of their ravages were visible for many
years.
The alarm occasioned b}' this attack, and the defenceless state
to which the inhabitants were reduced, led tliem to retire from the
j)lace, and to seek shelter in a more populous neighborhood. Short-
ly after the close of the war, which lasted little more than a year,
they returi\ed to their farms, and were permitted for many years
to cultivate them in peace.t
* The person to whom allusion is here made was Moses Newton, g;rand-
f'ather of the kite Utac. Paul Newton, of this town. Being ch tained behind
the rest in the benevolent attempt to rescue an aged and infirm female, who .
would otherwise have been exposed to certain destruction, he received a ball
in his elbow, which deprived him in a measure of the use of his arm ever af-
ter. Solo-Tion Newton, a grandson of the above, is now livinp, (1826) aged
92 years, with his son, "Willaid iXewton, Esq. ni Southborough, on the farm
i.aUcn up by his great-g:rand-fathcr, Kichard Newton, nearly 170 years 33:0.
Richard came from England, and was one of tlie 13 original proprietors of
Marlborough. Kichard had three sons, Moses, Ezekiel and John. Moses
was the father of eight sons and two daughters, viz. Moses, Jonathan, James,
Josiuh, David, Edward, Hannah, Mercy, Jacob, and Kbcnezer.
t There are no record? in \i\e Proprietors'' Books of wliat took place be-
niSTORV OF NORTMCOROUi'.H. 1 1
Soon after their return, they proceeded to the erection of a new
iMeetins^ House, which, like the fornjer, was thatched with straw,
, or rather a species ot' tall grass, taken from the meadow since cal-
led, I'rom that circumstance, Thatch Meadow. This building', which
was left in an unfinished state, lasted but a few years. In 1G8U, an
unsuccessful attempt was made to enlarge and repair it; and at
length, in 1688, a larger and more commodious house was erected,
near the site of the former, which lasted more than one hundred
and twenty years, having stood till the new Rleeling House in the
east Parish was erected, in 1809.*
Prior to the year 1684, it appears that nothing effectual had
been done towards purchasing a title to the land '' cleare of the In-
dians, who were continually making demands upon the towne." The
Plantation was commenced under the auspices of the Gen. Court ;
and, as 6000 acres, bordering upon this Plantation, had been re-
served by order of the Court, for the use of the Indians, nothing
further seems to have been thouglit necessary for many years,
either by the English or the Indians, to give the former a perfect
title to their lands. It was not indeed till the Indian Plantation was
broken up, and most of tlie inhabitants disper;«ei!, that the Indians
of Natickand Wamesit, (now a part of Tewksbury,) who belong-
ed to the same tribe with the Rlarlborough Indians, put in their
claims to a right in the soil which bad been cultivated by the En-
glish now for nearly 30 years.
At length, in the winter of 1684, a Committee of three persons
tvveen May, 1675, and July, 1677. It appears that the inhabitants had re-
turned some time before the latter date. It appears from the llecords of the
General Court, that preparations for defence against tlif- Indians had been
made as early as lti70. '' Ordered, that the Surveyor General shall forth-
with deliver unto Maj. liathora, or to Lieut. Samuel Ward, GO great shot, fit
for the guns in the Fort at Marlborough. A Fort was maintained there through
the war.
* The old Meeting; House was valued, in 16C9, at £10 ; the pulpit at £4,
"which were improved in ihe new Meeting House for carrying on the finishing
of that." — It would appear, from the ibllowing vote, whicli passed wilU great
unanimity at a meeting of the proprietors, .May 21, ICCiJ, that there had beea
some controversy respecting the location of the new Mei-tiug House, and that
it was even then in contemplation to divide the town into two parishes.
'•'■ Voted, Tliat if the wetterly part of the town shall see cause afterwards
lo build another .Meeting House. Lind fin t themselves able so to do, and main-
lain a minister; then the diviMon to be made by a line at the can-way at
blirrup Brook, where OuiLclicot way now goeth over, (now witliin the limits
of Northborough,) and to to run a parailol line with the west line of the
bounds of the town." It would seem highly probable, from this vote, that
there were inhabitants then living weat of the line thus defined, and which
was afterwards (1717) made the l.vHtnd.iry line betv.'cen Marlborou!jh and
^\'eslborou"■h.
12
HISTORY OF NOKTIir.OROUGII.
was appointed by the town to treat with the Inchans ; who, April
17th and 18th, with tlie help of Maj. Peter Buikley and Capt.
Thomas Hincksman, made a bar^^ain that the town should pay them
i;3I for a deed in full. The town accepted the conditions, and
agreed to bring in the money, (assessed upon the proprietors,
now 50 in number,) to the Meeting House, on the 20th of May next,
which was accordingly done, and the deed signed by the Indians
presented to the town, who directed that it should be kept by Abra-
ham Williams, as also the plat of the plantation made by Samuel
Andrews, of which an account has already been given.
A Copy of the Indian Deed of the Plantation of Marlborough.
"To all Christian people to whom these presents shall come, Greet-
KNOW YEE, That we, the Indian inhabitants of the Planta-
tions called Naticlc and Wamesit," (now part of Tewksbury,) "in the
Massachusetts Colonie, in New England, namely," (the names of
the grantees are written below, with the omission of Andrew Pilira
or Pitimee, and John Wamesqut, and the addition of Edmund Aso-
wonit, making the whole number 25,) "for and in consideration of
the sum of thirty one pounds of lawful money of New England,
which said sum, wee the said" (here the names are repeated,) "do
acknowledge ourselves to have received of Abraham Williams and
Joseph Rice, both of the town of Marlborough, in the County of
xMiddlesex, in New England, who, in the said payment, not only Ibr
themselves, but also as agents in behalf of all the rest of their fel-
low purchasers, belonging to the said town ©f Marlborough, and of
the said sum of thirty one pounds, and of every part and parcel
thereof, wee the said" (names repeated) "for ourselves, and for our
heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, do freely, clearly, and
Avholly, exonerate, acquit, and discharge the said Abraham Wil-
liams and Joseph Rice and all their said fellow purchasers belong-
ing to the said town of Marlborough, and every of them, and their
heirs, executors, administrators, and every of them forever; have
given, granted, bargained, sold, and by these presents, do give,
grant, bargain, sell, and confirm, unto the said Abraham Williams
and Joseph Rice, and unto all their fellow purchasers, belonging to
the said Town of Marlborough, and unto all and every of their sev-
eral heirs and assigns forever, all that tract of lantl, which is con-
tained within the bounds of the Town, Township, or Plantation,
called Marlborough aforesaid, as the said bounds were laid out,
plotted and represented by Mr. Samuel Andrews, of Cambridge, un-
HISTORY OV NORTHBOROUGH. IS
to the Court of (he Massachusetts Colonie aforesaid, and by the
said Court accepted and recorded, that is to say all Uplands,
Meadows, Swamps, Woods, Timber, Fountains, Brooks, Rivers,
Ponds, and Herbage, within the said bounds of the said Town,
Township, or Tlantation of Marlborough, together with all and sin-
gular the appurtenances thereof, and all manner of profits, gains,
and advantages, arising upon, or from, the said tract of land, which
the said Abraham Williams, or Joseph Rice, or all, or any of their
fellow purchasers, belonging to the town of Marlborough afore-
said, at any time formerly had, or now have, or hereafter at any
time may, or shall have ; (except a certain farm, some years ago
laid out unto Mr. John Alcock, deceased, which lyeth within the
bounds of said town or township of Marlburrough, and is by us, the
said" [names repeated] "utterly and totally exempted and excluded
from this present bargain.) To have and to kohl all the foremeii-
tioned tract of land" (here the description is repeated) "to their own
proper use and in)provement, as is above declared, (except the
farm before excepted,) to themselves, the said Abraham W^illiams
and Joseph Rice, and to all their said fellow purchasers, belonging
to the said Marlburrough, and unto all and several their heirs and as-
signs forever, in a good and sure estate of inheritance, in fee sim-
ple, without any claims or demands, any obstruction, eviction, ex-
pulsion, or molestation whatsoever, from us the said" (names re-
peated,) "or from the heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns of
us the said Indians, or either of us, or from any other person or
persons whatsoever, acting by, from, or under us or them, or any
of them, our said heirs, executors, administrators, or assigns. Fur-
thermore, wee, the said" (names repeated) "do covenant and grant,
^vith, and loo, the .said Abraham Williams and Joseph Rice, and all
their said fellow purchasers, belonging to said Marlburrough, that
wee, the above named Indians, have been, until the conveyance
and assurance made by these presents, the true and proper owners
of all the said tract of land, lying within the bounds of the planta-
tion or township of Marlburrough, together with all and singular
the appurtenances thereof, in our own right, and to our own use,
in a good absolute and firm estate of inheritance, in fee simple, and
have full power, good right, and lawful authority to grant, bar-
gain, sell, conv,eigh, and assure, the said tract of land, and every
part and parcel thereof, with all and singular the appurtenances of
the same, as is before, in these presents, mentioned ; and wee, the
said" (names repeated]^ "do warrant and assure that all the tract of
14
HISTORY OF NORTHBOnOCLiU,
land, and all and every the appurtenances thereof, by these prcs*
ents, alienated and sold, have been and are at (he time of signinj^
and sealing' of this Deed of sale, utterly and totally l've&, and clear
from any former bargains, sales, gifts, grants, leases, moitgages,
judgments, executions, extents, and incumbrances whatsoever ; ;ind
wee, the said" (names repeated) "•tor ourselves, and our heirs, exec-
xitors, administrators, and assigns, do, and shall, from time to time,
and at all times hereafter, (as occasion shall be ofTered) confirm,
defend, and make good, unto all intents and purposes, this whole
bargain and sale aforesaid, and unto all and several their heirs and
assigns forever. In witness of all which premises, wee, the said"
(names repeated) "have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord (^hrist, one thousand
six hundred, eighty and four, Annoq. Kegni Regis Caroli Secundi
XXXVI.
Andrew Pilim (Pitimee)
Atlomey to old F. JVaban.
signum
John X, Nasquanet
signum
William X Wononatomog
signuin
John ^ Speen
signum
Lawrence ><5 Nowsawane
signum
Jacob X Ponopohquin
his mark
Jeremy X Sosoohquoh
his mark
Samuel >,- William
signum
Nathaniel ><< Quonkatohn
James Speen
signum
John ><< Wamesqut
signum
Job X Poh])ono
his mark
Benjamin x; Tray
his m^rk
Soaowun ;><- noo
signum
James x VViser
Simon Betogkom
his mark
Great x Jo'.in
Thomas Waban
his mark
Abraham ><< Speen
his mark
Great x James
signuni
Jacob X Petowat
signum
Jehoja X kin
signum
Peter X Ephraim
Attorney for Jno. Aicoosamu^.
signum
John y^ Awoosamug
signum
Thorn. X Dublet
signum
Benjamin B Boho.
Signed, sealed, and deh'vered, in pre'
seuce of us witnesses,
Simon Crosby
John Curtis
his mark
Henry x Rice
John Magus )
Daniel Takawompait ) l"'^'^'^''
At a Court held at Natick among
the Indians, there appeared in Court, and before me, all the seal-
ers and subscribers to this deed, being twenty five (there are twen-
"June nth and 12th, 1G84.
nis'i'oi'.v fir r.'(>RTiii:(in(n;(jn.
If.
ty six bigniiliiros) porsiMis iii iiniiiliur, uml (Vccly :icI;ii(j\v1(m1i;(:,I lliis
Avriliiij^^ (o Ik! Ilieir net aiul dotNl."
"As Atti.'sl.'^, Damit. (InOKi.v, S( ii' r .l-ju^iii iii y
"This Deed entered in the lu'i;-i->U:r at (^.milindi'e. IJIi. ;). |ia'j;c
293— i>Ori. 7. i'. ao. i;y Th..: Dankohhi, l.'/'-^
It will he seen fVoio (he alif»vt! si^'natnres, thai, heMide.-. the (\vr>
Indian \vi(nesH<s, .lohn I\lai;iis and J)aiiiel 'raLa\vuni|iait, fnur dlh-
ei'ij, viz. Andrew rilirnce, Jaiucs S|iecii, Sinnjn HclnoLdrn, and
Thomas \V,d)an, wi'Dte Ihcir mvii names. Daiwel 'i'alia \viin:|i.iit,
or Tol(IcolMVom|iait, was a pastor ol'tlie ciuirch in N.ilir.k, m Ii;;)!!,
oi'dainL'd hy th(; Kcv. and lioly man ot'dod, .loii'v I'j lo r. lie is
said to have heen a |UM>i)n nC ^icat lvHO\vied;,''e.'*' TlioimH W'aiian
Avas jM'ohahly a son of ohl \Val»an, the (irst Iiulian (unveil in .Mii--
Fachuselis, and one who sn|i[ii)rli'd n cunsiite'nt chii-tian c haiacli'i'
till his death, nliitdi happi.-nL-d in ltj7l,al the aj^'e of 7t.i.t Maj.
(ien. Daniel Cluukin, helure wlnun tli«; d(!ed was a(dinowledi_^(Ml,
was the liiend and I'ellow lahoicr of I'.Iiot, an ei\li;^ht(Miod, viitn-
ftii-', and henevolcnt inat,''l-:t!ale. lie hetoni;ed tu Cainhridi^e,
whei-e he died in 1GB7, aged 7;>.
'r\\ii others, whose names art; alVivd (u Ihi^ iti-lruiiicnf, \\'/.
.lohn Sjn^en, and Jnhn Awuusamn!^', <ue nicnliu'.ied in the acennnt.
of Docheslei-.] The former of whom, it n|)[)(;ars, was fur some
time a teacher, till he berain(; addicted to intemperance, when he
was hud asiile. The lattiM', (hoo'jh he had heen jiropoundcd lo
join the clmrch, had been exeludeil on account nf hii ipiiclc and p.is-
sionate (einptr, hut dl^coverod marks ol penitence iluimg hi.s hibt
bickness, which salisl'ied flu; m ruph.s ol hi> hrtthien.
The Indian IMantation of Ockoucangansettji^i or J\Iaillioront(h.
Some linie previous lo the commencement of tlie l'ai;'^lish IMan-
tation, as appears from the l(dlowini( order of the (Jcneral (.'onr(,
the Indians had a gi'ant of a township !(■ (hat place.
" In reference (o the case hetween'IMr. IHiot, in h(dialf of the
Indians of Oj^iionikonii^qnamesit, ami Siidhnry n»en : (he Conrtc (ind-
injif that (he Indians had a grannt of a township in the |d.ice hefoie
'•■See 1 lti:it. r'ol.X. 13-1. r 1 il.at.Cul. V.x'(;:{. t l llist.(.'ol. IX. I'.t!!.
H liave j:;iveii I'le naiiit; as il la 11111101 mly wiillen in llie <;;irliist n < .inti
cC M;iilLioicHi^li. liiitcliii.s.iii, i|iioliiii,' li>>iii l.liul, wiio visit. J tliu iilai,.: in
Itj7l), wiitfi It OgguoiiiUoii^qiuiruLbuL i (iooliiii, \vlio>vioU: in l(i7 !, < H- .>iiiin.i-
Ivaim nit. 'I'lit; woiil lias uiiicc. luiiai CDiiiipU il into A;;o^;ui;,'e^.>mi;j<:l. 'I tiii
UUlIlr!, it shoiilit he, t;oii<i(lcn:cl, w.ia at ("nsl apinoiaiutnl to lln- liidi.iii I'liiula-
tioii, wliilc llu: I'.nglisli I'laiitiiliviii, l"loic its imu.rjxir.itiini in lt)(j(», w;i» callni
AVliipaunijeniik.;. IJotli |il;iiiluliia,i uiic, lu.wivn, in 107 !, calj-id l.y (lu;
3;iiii(; luuuc by L'r.nii:! (.'onkiii.
16
HISTORY OF nORTHBOROUGH.
the English, the Courtc delcrmines ami orders, that Mr. Edward
Jackson, Mr. The. Danforth, Mr. Ephrahn Child andCapt. Lusher,'^
or any three of them, as acomtnittce, shall with the first conven-
ient opportunity, if it may he he fore winter, lay out a township in
the said place, of GOOO acres, to the ludians in which, at least, shall
bee three or four hundred acres of meadow ; and in case there be
enough left for a convenient township for the Sudhury men, to lay
it out to them; the grant of Mr. Alcock's (812 acres granted in 1655)
confirmed hy the last Court out of both excepted and reserved, and
the Indians to have the Hill on which they are, and the rest of the
land to be laid out adjoining to it as may be convenient to both
plantations."!
The Hill mentioned in this order, had been improved for many
years by the Indians, probably long before the arrival of the Eng-
lish, as a planting field. It was afterwards, in IG77, as appears
from the following instrument, conveyed to Daniel Gookin, E-^q.
'•■ Know all men hy these presents that we old Nequain, Robin
called old Robin, Benjamin Wuttanamit, James called Great James,
John Nasquamit, Sarah the widow of Peter Nasquament, in behalf
tf her child Moses David, next heir to my father and to my uncle
Josi.ili Harding, deceased, without issue, Assoask the widow of Jo-
siah Nowell, in behalf of my children, Sarah Conomog, sole exex-
utrix to my late husband, Conomog, Elizabeth, the only daughter
and heir of Solomon, deceased," [Solomon had been the teacher of
the Indians of Marlborough,] ''James Spene, in behalf of my wile,
being all of us, true proprietors, possessors and improvers at the
Indian lands called Whipsufferage, alias Okonkonomesit, adjoining
to Marlborough in the colony of Massachusetts in New England
for divers considerations us thereunto moving, especially the love
and duty we owe to our honored magistrate, Daniel Gookin, of
Cambridge, Esq. who hath been a ruler to us above 20 years, do
hereby freely and absolutely give, grant and confirm, unto him the
said Daniel Gookin, Esq. and his heirs forever, one parcel of land
heretofore broken up, and being planted by us and our predeces-
sors, called by the name of Okonkonomesit Hill, situate, lying and
being on the south side of ou. township and plantation, near Marl-
borough, containing about one hundred acres, more or less, (also
ten acres in Fort Meadow, and ten in Long Meadow,) with free
* These three, Danforth, Child, and I^usher, were respectively deputies
to the General Court from Cambridge, WatertowD, and Dedbam, in 1657.
t Records of the General Court for the year 1C58-9.
HISTORY OF NORTIinOROUGII. 17
liberty of commonage for wood, timber, feeding of bis cattle, upon
any common land, witbin our townsbip or plantation."
''Second day of May, 1677.
Signed, sealed, and delivered in presence of us,
Jobn Eliot, Waban X bis mark.
Noab Wiswell, Piamboo X bis mark,
Josbaa Woods, Joseph Wheeler.
Acknowledged before me,
Thomas Danforth, Assistant.
Entered and recorded at the Registry at Cambridge.*"
It is tljus described by Gookin in 1G74. " In this Indian Plan-
tation there is a piece of fertile land, containing above 150 acres,
upon which the Indians have, not long since, lived, and planted
several apple trees thereupon, which bear abandance of fruit;
but now the Indians are removed from it about a mile. This
tract of land doth .so embosom itself into the English town, that it
is encompassed about with it, except one way ; and upon the edge
of this land the English have placed their Rloeting House." It was
A favorite design of the benevolent Gookin, which lie proposed in
his Historical Collections, " as an expedient for civilizing the In-
dians, and propagating the Gospel among them," to have this tract
of land, which, with certain meadows and woodland, be says, "is well
worth £200 in money, set apart for an Indian free school ; and
there to build a convenient bouse for a school master and his fami-
ly, and under the same roof may be a room for a school." This,
with the necessary out buildings, he computes will not cost more
than £200 in money ; and the use of the land, he thinks, will be an
adequate compensation for the services of the school master.
" Moreover, it is very probable," he adds, ''that the English
people of Marlborough will gladly and readily send their children
to the same school, and pay the school master for them, which will
better his maintenance ; for they have no school in that place at
the present."
We learn further from this account that the number of families
in Marlborough, at this period, did not amount to fifty, every vil-
lage containing that number being required by the laws to provide
a school "to teach the English tongue, and to write." "These
* May 18, 1G82. Waban, Piamboo, Great James, Thomas Tray, and
John Wincols, proprietors of lliu Indian I'lantation of Whipsufferadge, grant-
ed to Samuel Gookin, of Cambridge, liberty to erect a Saw Mill upon any
brook or run of water within the said I'lantation, with land not exceeding
threp arre?, u*!0 of timber, kc. for 30 year".
115
lUSTORY OF NOUTHBOnOUGH.
people of Marlliorough,'' says he, somewhat indignantly, " wanting
a few of fifty families, do take that low advantage to ease their
purses of this common charge."
What reception this proposal met with, we are not informed.
It was most certainly an expedient that promised the happiest con-
sequences, and worthy of the liheral and philanthropic mind of itk
author. How close is the resemblance between this plan, conceiv-
ed more than one hundred and lifty years since, and that of the
Indian schools recently established at Brainerd, Eliot, Mayhew,
and other places in the United States ?'*=
The people of Marlborough, notwithstanding the severity of
Gookin's censure, have not been behind other towns in New En-
gland in their attention to schools. Owing to the troubles which
ensued, soon after the date of Gookin's Historical Collections, they
felt themselves unable tc meet the expense of a public school for
several following years. At length, however, in 1698, Benjamin
Franklinj was employed as a school master in Marlborough, from
the first of November, 1696, to tlie last of March, 1697, at eight
shillings per week ; " he engaging carefully to teach all such youth
as com or are sent to him, to read English once a day, att least, or
more, if need require ; also to learn to write and cast accounts."
The school was kept in Isaac Wood's house, which was then un-
occupied.
*1 Hist. Col. I. p. 220.
tTliis person was probably nn niiL-lc ot Doctor Benjamin Franklin. In
the first volume of Franklin's Works, edited by his jjraudson, William Tem-
ple Franklin, page 6, is the following account of the person referred to above.
" My grandfather had four sons, who g'rew up, viz: Thomas, John, Benjamin
and Josiah. Beiijaniin was bred a silk dyer, serving an apprenticeship in Lon-
don. He was an ingenious man. 1 remember, when I was a boy, he came
to my father's, in Boston, and resided in tlu-: house with us for several years.
There was always a particular aflVctivni between my father and him, and I
■was his godson. He lived to a great agj. He left behind him two quarto
volumes of manuscript of his own poetry, consisting of lugitive pieces addres-
sed to his friends. He had invented fi shorthand of his own, which he taught
nie, but not having practiced it, I have now for^rotteu it. He was very pious,
and an assiduous attendant at the ser.uons of the best preachers, which he
reduced to writing according to his nuthod, and iiad thus collected several
vo'uiiii'S ufthem. He was also a goud deal of a politician ; too mucii so, per-
haps, for his station. There fell lately into niy possession, in Loudon, a col-
lection he made of all the principal political pamjjlilets relating to public af-
fairs, from the year IGll to 1717 ; many of the volumes are wanting, as ap-
pears, by their numbering; but there still remains eight volumes in folio, and
twenty in quarto and octavo. A dealer iu old books had met with them, and
knowing nie by name, having boui;ht books of him, he brought them to ine.
It would appear that my uncle must have left them here, when he went to
America, which was about fifty years ago. I found several of his notes in the
n'.argins. His grandson, JfaniiKl Franklin, U still living in Boilou."
HISTOny OF NORTHBOROUGW.
19
Jan. 10, 1698-9. The town voted to build a scliool house. Af-
ter this, Mr. Jonathan Johnson was emplo}'ed as a school master
for ui;\ny years in succession.
The Indian Phinlafion was laid out ajrreeably to the following report
of the t.'ommi5?ioners appointed as aforesaid.
"WnipsurpLNicKE the 1 9th of june, 1659.
"The Committee appointed hy the Gen. Court to lay out a Plan-
tation for the Iruli.ins of GOOD acres at the above named place, hav-
ing; ariven Mr. Eliot* a meeting and duly weighed all his exceptions
in the behalf of the Indians; first, what hath beene formerly acted
and returned to the Gen. Court, do judge mcote.in way of comply-
ance, that the bounds of the Indian IM.mtation bee enlarged unto
I the most westerly part of the fence, that now standetli on the
west side of the Hill or plantmg field called Ockoocangansett, and
from thence to bee extended on a direct north line untill they have
their full quantity of 6000 acres: the boumls of their Plantation in
all other respects, wee jndije meete that they slnnd as in the form
returned ; and that their full complement of meadow hy Court
Grant, may stand and hee exactly measured out by an arli>t within
the limits of the aforesaid lines, when the Indiiuis, or any in their
behalf, are willing to be at the charges thereof: providetl alwaies
that the Indi ns may have noe power to make sak thereof,' of all
or any part of their abovesaid lands, otherwise than by the consent
of the Hon'* Gei.i Court; or when any shall be marie or happen,
the Plantation of English there seated may have the first tender
of it from the Court ; which caution wee the rather insert, because
not only a considerable part of the nearest and best planting land
is heereby taken away from the En^flisii (as we are informed) but
the nearest and best part of their meadow, by eslimiition about an
hundred arres in one place, that this nortii line doth take away,
which tendeth much to the detrimenting of the Engli>li Plantation,
especially if the lauds slionid bee impropriated to any other use
than the Indians proposed, that is to siv, for an Indian Plantntion,
or tor the accommodating their Plantation, they should bee depii\-
ed thereof"
Signed by
ELE^ZCIl LUSHER, )
EDWAKl) .IA( KSON, (
El'HIiAlVl CHILI), (
3R.TH, )
Commisnoners.
THOMAS DaNFOR.'
* The celebrated John Eliot, minister of Roibury, comiuonly called the
Apostle of the Indians.
3
~0 HISTORY OF KOKTlIBOnorGlI.
The account given of this Phuilation by Capt. afterwards, Maj.
Gen, Gookin, of Cambridge, who visited it in 167 1, moie than one
bundred and fifty years since, will be interesting to these who have
not already seen it.
" OkommaUamesit, alias Mailborough, is situated about twelve
miles north northeast from Hassunamesitt, (Grafton) about liiirty
miles from Boston westerly.
"This village contains about ton families, and conseqtiently about
fifty souls. The quantity of land appertaining to it is six thousand
acres. It is much of it good lar.d, and yieldeth plenty of corn, be-
ing well liusbanded. It is sulTiciently stored with meadow, and is
well wooded and watered. It hath several good orchards uj-on it,
planted by the Indians: and is in itself a very good plantation.
This town doth join so near to the English of Marlborough, that it
(we might apply to it what) was spoken of Divid in type and our
Lord Jesus Christ, the antitype, "Under his shadow ye shall re-
joice:" but the Indians here do not much rejfiice under the English-
men's shadow ; who do so overtop them in their number of people,
stocks of cattle, kc. that the Indians do not greatly tiourish, or de-
light in their station at present.
"•Their ruler here Avas Onomog, who is lately deceased, about
two months since ; which is a great blow to t!iat place. He was a
pious and discreet man, and the very soul as it were of that place.
Their teacher's name is *=*** Here ihcy observe the same decorum
ibr religion and civil order, as is done in other towns. They have
a constable ahd other oflicers, as the rest have. The Lord sancti-
fy the present affliction they are under by reason of their bereave-
ments ; and raise up others, and give them grace to promote relig-
ion and good order among them."
From this account, which is given by an eye witness, it is pretty
evident that a spirit of jealousy and envy against their more pros-
perous neighbors of the English Plantation, was even then rankling
in their hearts : and we are not niuch surprised to learn that, in the
calamitous war which broke out in the tbilowing year bct>veen the
English and Indians, known by the name of Kiuir Philip's war, some
of these half civilized sons of the fori^st wore lound among the en-
emy, at the place of their general rendezvous, in the western part
of Worcester County, a few days previous t ) their desolating march
♦Hutchinson says his name was Solomon, judged to be a serious and sound
Cbristiau. p. 1(37.
niSTOHY OF NORTIIDOROUGir. OJ
through the country, in which L;mc;iiter, and many other towns,
experienced the lionuis of savage warlare.*
* Jamea Quanipaiio;, wlm was.sent out with another Indian by tlie name
of Job to reconnoitre the enemy, then m the W estirii pari oi this County, in
the be^Mrinintj of 167G, i):i;<e(l through ll;,s,anhinesit (Grafton) thence to
Mauexit, (a part of Woolitock) wliiie ne was taken hy st-ven Indians and
carried to Menimesseg, (.New Br.antrce) where he found many of the mt my,
and amonjjthein "the .Marlborou-h Indians who pretended thai th. y had been
fetched away by llie olh.r hidians." .>?on.e of tliein professed to be willing to
return. I'lulip is said al iliis time to have been about iiall a (h\y's j..i:rn( y on
the other side of Fort Orania, (Ah)any) u.jd the tladliy Inaiaus on this side.
They were th.-n preparin;^ for that memorable expediiion, in which ihe towns
«f Lancaster, Grotcn, Marihorougli, Suduury, and Aiedlieid, were destroyed.
Th(! letter of James (^lanipauy; bears date 24th : 1 1 mo : 1G75. (Jan.
'24, ltJ76.) It was only JU days alter this, viz. I'eb. UHh O. S, that they
made a descent upon Lmicast* r, with 15UU warriors, and buicliered or carried
into captnity nearly all the inhabitants c,f tliat flourishing viliag-e.
Whether the Marlborough Indiana joined in this expedition, or left the
enemy and returned to their homes, I liave not been able after diligent en-
quiry to ascerlam. I he little ihat 1 have been able to collect, though cor-
roborated oy circumstantial evidence, rests mainly on tradition.
'rnou:,'h it appeals from the testimony of James Quanipaug that the
Marlboiougii Indians were with I'hilip's men at Menimesseg, it is by no
means certain that all who bel.i:ig( d to the I'lantalioii had gone over to the
eni aiy. i'radilion says, that those who remained at home were suspected of
treacnery, and that representations to that ( fleet were made to the governor,
(L. vereit) who dispatched a company of soldiers under the command of
Capt. .VIosely, to convey them to lioston. 'J'hey reached Marlborough, it is
said, in the night ; and early in the morning, before the Indians had any sus-
picion of their design, surrounded the firt to which they were accustomed to
repair at night, si* zed on their arms, and otdiged them to surrender. They
attempted no resistance, nnd it is by no means certain that they entertained
any hostile designs against the English. 'I'hey were, however, taken into the
custody of the soldiers ; and, having their hands fastened behind their backs,
and then being connected together by means of a cart rope, they were in this
manntir driven down to Boston, wlience it is probable, that they were convey-
ed, in company with the Indians of Ps'atick and other places, to one of the is-
lands in the harbor, and kept in durance till the close of tlie war.
This tradition is corroborated by the following circumstances.
in the account of Uaniel (J-jokin, in 1 Hist. Col. 1, 2JL!, it is said that
" some instances of perfidy in Indians, who had professed tliemselves friendly,
excited sus{)icions agai ist all their tribes. The General Court of Massachu-
setts passed several severe laws agaipst them ; and the Indians of Natick and
other places, who had subjected themselves to the English government, were
hurried down to Long Island (Hutchinson says Ueer Island,) in the harbor
of Boston, where they remained all winter, and cudnred inexpressible hard-
ships." We learn fnrther from Hulnhinson, that the Indians of i'unkapog
alone (now Stoughton) were exempted from this si verity of treatment. The
ground of the harsh measures adopted in reference to the Indians in the
neighborhood of Boston, was, the perfulious conduct of the .Springfield Indiana,
in assisting in the destruction of Westfield, lJadIey,and other places, in Octo-
ber lG7o. ''This instance of perfidy," says Hutchinson, "'seems to have in-
creased the jealousies and susi>icions, which had before begun of the Indians
round Boston, viz. I'unkapog, Natick, fcc."
At the session, in October, the General Court ordered " that no person
shall entertain, own, or countenance any Indian under the penalty of being a
betrayer of this government."
" That a guc^rd be set at the entrance of the (own of Boston, a.id (hat no
22 HISTORY OF NOKTHEOROUGII.
This war, if calamitous to the English, proved fatal to nearly
all the ludian Plantations in New England. Among the rest ihe
Indian be sufllered to enter iipnn any pretence without a tuarfl of two mus-
keleer!', and not to lodg-e in town.'"
*•' Tliat any pc-rson may a[>pr(htiid an Indian, finding- liini in town, or ap-
proachius: the town, and that none bt- M.fh ri-d to come m l^y wntt r."
')"o this we may add, tliat (apt. Mortdy's char.itti r was sncli as to render
it highly piDbable th;.t he perlbr.-.itd the part whi( h tradition lia? a!-«ig:ned to
him. Miitchinbon say?, "lie hail l)e( n an ohl ptivatierer at Jaaiaira, j-roba-
bly of such as weie calbd Unccariiers." lie cominandid a i oupany of 110
\olunteers, in the war with Kin^ I'liilip, and was one of the nio-t resulule
and conra^i oiis captains of hip day. It was he who, on t-( pt. I, I(j75, w^ nt
out to the rescue ol C/'apt. LtUirop, w lio wilh only I'.U nun was a'lacked by
a liody of 7 or li hundred Indians at Dei ilii Id, wlx-n all (,"apt. J/s tonipany,
with the excep;ion o\' st-vin orti^bt, weie cut olL lie also led tin- van in
thettrrible assault niadf upon the Indians, Dec. 19, in the Narragausett
country, in which six £nglisli captains wt re kilhd, and nearly '2(jU men kil-
led and wounded.
I hope I shall be pardoned for addinp to this already extended note, the
followinj; particulars respecting- the remains ot the Marlborou^rh Indians.
After the clo^e of the war, some of the Indians of jMarlboroi-gb appear to
have ri-turned to thi ir former place of abode. But their plantation was brok-
eu up, and they were forced to find shelter and subsistt nee as tliey were able.
A considerable number of the Indians who remained in, or returned to,
Marlborough, after the war, lived in the westiily jiait of the town, on the
farm of Thomas Biigham, one of the oldest proprietors, the common ancestor
of all tliH Brigbanis in this town, as well as of many of that name in .Viarlbo-
rough, Westborongh, an^t other places. 'I'he late Judge Urigham, of \Vesl-
borough, and Itev. Benjamin Brighain, of Fitzwilliam, were great-grandsons
of Thomas.
Among those who returned was David, alias David ]Vlunnat<aw, who had
joined Philip, and as he afterwards confessed, assisted in the destruction of
IVledfield. 'I'his treacherous Indian had, it is said, a slit thumb, which cir-
cumstance led to his conviction. He had been absent from Marlborough
several months, but after his return would give no account of hims^ If whith-
er he had been, or how he had employed himstlf in the mean time. At
length, however, an inhabitant of .Mediitld, one whom Munnanaw had wound-
ed, being at Marlborough, immediately recognizi d him by the mark en his
thumb, and charged him with his treachery. At first he denied the charge ;
but, finding that the proof against him could not be evaded, he ai leni;th own-
ed tnat he had been led away by Philip, and had assisted in the burning of
Medfield.
He was, however, suffered to live without molestation. His wigwam stood
on the borders of the beautiful lake, near-the public house kept by .Mr. Silas
Gates, where he lived with his family many years, till the infirmities of old
age came upon him. He was accustomed to repair to the neighboring or-
chards for tile purpose of obtaining fruit. There was one tree of tlie fruit
of which he was particularly fond, and which was accordingly his favorite
place of resort. In tins spot the old warrior i-xpired. Old David Munnanaw
died a little more than 80 ytars since, having lived, as was supposed, nearlj
or quite a century of years. Capt. Timothy Brigham, now in his 9lst y-ar,
well recollects having seen him, when he was a child of about 9 or lo years
old, at his grandfatht-r's, Jonathan Hrigham's, of Marlborough. According to
this account, Munnanaw must have been a youni man, '25 or 30 years of age,
at the time of Philip's war. t apt. B. represi nts him as bearing the marks
of extreme old age, his fl. sh wasttd, and his skin shrivelled. He understood
that he had the n putalion of h.iving lie.n treachi rous to the English. Abim-
ilech David, supposed to be a son of the former, was a tuU, stout, well pro-
nisTORv OF KORTiinonorcH. 23
Plantation of Mavlborongh, was conii)lelcly broken up and soon
passed into other hands. On tlie Iblli of July 1681, a few weoks
suhseciuent to the dato of the Indian deed of tlie Kngiisli Piantation,
the Iiidiiin laini'* wore lornially transferred by deed to John P>rig--
ham ol iMarlliorongh and ills fellow purchasers ;* and in October,
1686, the aforesaid John Briijhitn who was a noted surveyor and
speculator in lands, was api»oililed " to lay out 3U acres to each of
the proprietors in some ol' the best of the land lying^ as convenient
as mav be to the town ol' iMarli)orou2:b."
June the ijth 1700, the inhabilants of RIarlborong-h petitioned
the General Court, that the proprietors of the Indian lands nnght
be annexed to the said town, wliich petition was o-ranled, and I\larl-
boroui^h accordingly received an accession of CUOO acres, a huge
proportion of which is good land.
After the close of Philip's war the inhabitants of Marlboroun'h
do not appear to have been seriously molested liy the Indians till
after the commencement of the eig'hteenth century.
In the mean time the settlement had extended itself towards the
borders of the town, so that some time previous to the close of the
portioned Indian, ia well remembered by many persons now !ivin». Abimi-
lech had several daughters, anion"; whom were, Sue, licborah, Esther. Pa-
ti'^nce, Nabby, and Lietty. 1 hey livt-d in a wrttcliid hovil or witrwain, un-
der the larg-e oak now standing-, near the thvellin^ house n|' Air. Warren i-ri»-
hani. I hey had beccnn- dissolute in their liatijls, and w re excttdingjy
troubl^-^0(Ile to their nti^bbors; and they arc renieuibered with very little
respect or afl\ clion.
The Indian buryin°: ground, where the last remnants of the race were in-
terred, is situaterl a ft-w rods from tbf south roail, ha liufi from Marlborough
to IS'orthborou^h, near the residence of Widow tlDlyoke, in a (it Ul bth>n*in'>-
to the old L>ri°liani larni. It his hi en enjoined on Ihf lamily in »a( li suc-
ceediiiif <feneiatiopi, not to tr. spnss on tlli^ rtpcisitmy of llu- di ad ; an injunc-
tion whi' b has biih. rto bein duly ri;;rard4-d. The buryins; eroiitid is about
five rods in lensjlli, and som-vvhat inorr than one rod in ! rt adih, c<ii ered -with
wild ^ra^s iind loosi ^lon( s. A b w y.ars s-ince, as I have Keen informed, as
many as twtiity or thirty ^ravr-s Wi-re plainly disl in^uisbablc, lben°-li ihey
have now almost wholly disappear, d. Two ol tbe graves w« re situated «il fl-
out the bounds of the n st, and ni a direclioti p- rp(ndicular to tin ni ; tbe lor-
nier being irom north to south, tbe later Iront ea<t lo west Many aged p( r-
sons can remembi-r when t)ie last deirraded n mnants of the r;.ce, once inhab-
iting the soil we occupy, eiicbised in rude coflins of rough boards, bastily put
together, and without any religious ceieniony, were conveyed to this rejiosi-
tory of the dead.
* This d^ed appears to have been obtained by unfair means, as in the
following September, a commitlee appointed b" tht General C ourt to exam-
ine into the groimds of roniplai'^t made by the linlians against the Knglish of
Marlborough, reported in fivor of the linliuns. and "•the Court ordi-red and de-
clared that the Indian deed of sab- to the inhabitant? of Marlborough ol 5tiOO
acres of land (the whob; ol the Indian L'lantalion with the exciplipii ol the
Indian i'lanting field) bearing date July f). I'JDl, is illegal and cousequtntly
null and void."'
HISTORY OF KORlUCOKOfoII.
seventeenth "cenliiry, some of the laniis now iuchulod withhi the
limits of VVeslboroiigh and Norlhhoiough, then called Chauiicoy,
or Chauncey Village, had been laid out i'or farms.
Indeed i50 early as 16G0, the very year that Marlboroiigli wa?
incorporated, several tracts of meadow, lying within the limits of
this town, were surveyed and the names given them which they
now bear.* And, in IGiiS, three large meadows, Culd Harbour
Meadow, Middle Meadow, and Chauncey Meadow, the first ol which
and part of the second, lie wi'.hin t'.ie limits of this tovvri, were or-
dered to be surveyed, and each to be laid out in tliirty tour lots,
wliicli was probably the number of proprietors at that lime.j
The first grants of land lying within the limits of what is now
Westborough and Northborough, with the exception of the mead-
ows al)0ve named, bear the d.ile oi" 1072. From (his time, and be-
fore the clo*e of the century, many of the proprietors of Marlbo-
rough had talcen up I'uelv 2nd, 3d, and 4th divisions in the wester-
ly part of the town, several of them west of the river Assabeth.
It is asserted by Rev. Mr. Whitney, in his history of this town,
that there were settlers in this part of Marlborough before there
were any in what is now Westborough. The first settler according
to tradition was Joiiu Dngiiam, tVom Sudbury, a noted land survey-
* Three Coraer Meadow, Stiiiiip Meadow, Craae Meadow, Cedar Mead-
ow, &c.
t The ori:,'in of these names accorJins: to tradition was as follows: — Cold
Harbour Moadow, in ih.- wsteni part of tliis to.vn, so called iVoni thn cir-
cumstance of a Iraveller, liavin;^ lost his \vay, bi-iu^ coni|>ilK-d to rCinain
through a rol 1 winter's ni!ht in a stack ot" hay in that place, and on tlic fol-
lowing morning, having made his way through the wilderness to the habita-
tions of man, and hein^ askr-d where he lodgud ilurinsr the ni^ht, replied, " In
Col 1 Harbour." Middle Ueudow, on th- borders of Westborough and North-
borough, so called probably from its situation in reference to the two others.
Chauncey Mi.-adow, in VVesihorough, so called probably for tlie same
reason that the westi rn part of Marlbnrongli was called Chauncey. The ori-
gin of the p.a.ne was known only by traditiun in ihe (lev. Mr. l^arkman's day,
w!io was ordained in Westborough, <)ct. 'illth, 1724, and who jrave the fol-
lowinij account. " It is said that in early times one Mr. ( bauncey was lost
in one of the swamps here, and from hence this part of the town had its
name." I find from the record? of the General (Jourt lor the year 1065, that
Mr, Chauncey had taken up lands within the limits of Marlborough, and that
tlie proprietors of Vlarlborongh were ordered to remunerate him for hiscxjun-
ces incurred in laying out his farm, •■• and ln' hath liberty to lay out the same
in any land not formrrly granted ny this Court." Qnere. — May not this have
been Presidi-nt Chauncey, of Harvard College, to whom, an account of the
smallness of Ids salary, npeated grants oi' land were made about this time by
the (ileneral Court? Ur. Chauncey, of i'.oston, the great-grandson of {'res-
ident Chauncev, says tliat the latter was the first, and the coaimon ancestor
of all of (hat name in this place. If so, the Mr. C. above mentioned musthitve
been l^resident Chauncey or one of his sons.
l^lS•l()llV OF KOIlTlini'>n()Ui;fI. Xli*
or, uncloi'bteilly the same person who has hoi ii inontioncd in our ac-
count of the lii'liaii riant, itiou. It appears tioin thf I'lopruitors'
record;^ that a j,nant oi' land wai^ made to John Brii,'hani, in 1012,
''in the place tbirr.eily dcsiix-d, (liat i^ on Licor Alcadow j)! tin."'
Tliis hxnd was prohahiy part of the Coiarn Farm, so called, tlie
principal part of which lay on the northern side of the old Marlho-
Yourrh line,* and now consiilntc-s, in whole, or in part, the farms of
Nahmn Fay, Esq. John Green, Asa Fay, Lewis Fiy, and Stephen
Williams, Esq. The lands of Mr. Brigham extended to the saw
mill of Mr. Lowell Holbroolc, near which he erected a small cal)in,
in which he lived several year*, remote from any human habitation,
till, at length, the fear of the Savages compelled him to retreat to a
place of greater security; and, it is said, that only a few days after
his removal, a party of Indians came to the place an^l burned his
house to the ground.
The first Saw Milf erected in this town was built by the above
named Brigham, and stood on the same spot, wiiich is now occupied
for the same purpose.!
In tlie same year (IG72) a grant of land was made to Samuel
Goodenow, grandfather of the late Asa Goodenow, and to Thomas
Brigham, the person mentioned in tlie last note, "by Double Pond
Meadow, on both sides said meadow."! The land;^ taken up on the
account of the above named Samuel Goodenow, constituted three
*Tlie old Marlborough line, Avas a straii;ht lii;e of seven milos in extent,
runnings tlirougli the northwest angle of ttiis town, and cutting off more thaa
2000 acres, which constitute what is called tin,- new grants, of which an ac-
coMut will be given hereafter.
t John Brigham was one of three brothers (John, Samuel, and Thomas)
who ca.iie from Sudbury to .Marlbnrouirh soan time i)revious to 1672. '1 Iieir
father was from F.ngland, marriid a Mercie lUird also fioni Kimland, settled
in Sudliury, where he died |in)bably in middle life, as his widow had burit d
a second husliand by the name of Hunt, before lit r sons removed to Mailbo-
rough. Samuel Urigham, was the grand-fatlit r of the late Dr. Samuel Brig-
ham, of Martljorough : 'I'homas was an ancestor ol the late Jud^e Brigham, of
Westborough ; and John, who was sometimt s called Doctor Hrighum, was the
fatlu r of tiie Mrs. Mary Tay, wiii- of GerMiom lay, of whose remarkabb- es-
cape from the Indians we shall presently give an account. John Brigham
was one of the selectmen of Marlboron2'h i;] 1G79, and in the winter of IGG'J
90, representative to the Convention then sitting in Boston. The' oram Farm,
was granted him, it is saiil, by the Clcneral Court to compi nsate him for ser-
victs as a surveyor of land-. Mr. Hiigbam liv<'d to Ik quite aged, and used
to come to reside with his daughter Mrs. Fay, in this town.
! (Jncre. .May not this meadow be the one which lies between Great
and Little Chaunccy jionds, which, as tliey are conn< cted with each other
by a water communication, might h;<ve bei-n calle.l at fust Double I'ond ?
David Brigliam, son of Thomaf, lived on the bonb rs of Great Chauacey, on
the farm now in the possession of Lovelt I'tterf, Esq.
26 ~ HISTORY OF NORTIICOnOlGU.
of the oldest settlements in this town, on one of which was the prin-
cipal garrison hou'^e, used for many years as a defence aijainst the
luiHan'i, and whicii stood on the farm of [\lr. Gill Bartlett, then own-
ed hy Samnel Goodenow, Jr. The other two, were in the vicinity
of this, and ronstitnte in whole, or in part, the farms of Deac. Jonas
Bartlett and Mr. Stephen How.
In the same year, a grant of land was made to John Rediet,
"west of Assnheth River, northwest side of the Chauncey Groat
Pond, hounded on the east hy a Spruce Swamp :" another tract on
"the Nepmuck road, that formerly led toward Coneticoat."* The
land of Jolm Rediet, who was one of the first pi'oprietors and great-
est land holders of Marlhorougli, came into the possession of Na-
thaniel Oaks, who married his daughter, and who lived on the farm
owned in succession by Kev. John iMirtyn and Rev. l^eter ^\ iiitney,
and now in tlie possession of .Mr. Jacob Fierce.! Ca|)t. Jamns Ea-
ger was another of the first settlers of this town. He lived nf ar the
centre of the town on the farm now in the possession of Mr. John
Fisk. His house was once used for a garrison, and was fur many
years occupied as a tav'ern, being liie lii'st that was opened in the
place.J
* "The !Vrpmuf;k Ro.icl, tliat firmerly led towanl Conelicoat." was the
old Coniiectinit road tliut p.issi-d ihroii;.'li ilic s'liiilu :(st p:iito( this town,
ovi r Rock ilill, last i)t Great and Litili- C-hauncey poiuls, into \VistliArnii;.h
and thiiice tlirough Ilaisanamesit or Giaflon. 1. Hist. Col. 1. p. ItiS and
192.
t Nathaniel Oaks came fmin r.nslarid, marrii-d Mrhitahel, daiip-hter ol
.Tohn Riidit-t, who dii d Nov. ^oth, 17(12, ^viihnnt childi- n. (lis second wife
INIury, WHS a daiii,'-hltT of Adaui l]o||oway, hy whom he hail Ihf follo\vin^
children, viz. — Nathaniel, who livfd at Bolton. William, horned to di-athat
j-hrewsbnry in \.\n- honse ol C apt. Kt yt s. Ihionah, marru-il to (iirsl'.aru tay,
Jr. died .March C, l!i06, wanting- l.uU a iVw nicnths oi a ci ntnry She was
the mother of the late 'l'ha',ld( us I'^ay. who ditd.J ily 2-. l!<-2. a;i< d 91 years.
Mary, marritd to Daniel Maynard. "'^arihcroi';;!!. Ann, mariiid to i)avid
Riayiiard, \Ve?tboroug;h. John, built iht hou^e i ear ' n|. Crawford'.':, owned
by Joel Gasjit. Jonathan, removt-d to Harvard. GfOi»-, lived near the
house of Mr. Luther Hawse, and built a saw mill on tin river Astab<;h.
I Capt. James Ea^er was a native of Marlbornu'zh, horn in I6!i5, died
1755, a;red 70. Ho was ont of the leading m« n of thi- place at •.hi time that
iNorlhborourh became a separate (irecinct. It is said that bis ho'iat was the
lirst that was built on the new Connecticut road, between the hnuse of .-amu-
tl Goodenow and the town of Worcester. It is but little more than a hund-
red years, since there was not a human hatiilation on the road from Marlho-
louih to Urookfield, west of the Goodi.now farm, in the eastern pait of this
town, with the i^xcepti.m of a i"e>v loo; houses in that p:(rt of ^^ orc'-ster called
Uoejachoagf. James Ka?er, Jr. a son of the above, was married to .Mariam,
daughter of Joseph Wheeler. Thi-ir dan^fhter Zilpeh, was married to ?tiich-
ael, son of Rev. John .Martyn throu^jh whom there are svrveral persous in this
fov/u who trace their desceut from the first minister of the place.
HISTORY Ol-' NORTIIBOROUCM. 27
Several other persons settled in what is now Marlhorough, in
the c;irly part of the last century.*
Soon alter the commencement of the eighteenth century, the
EnglisJi settlers of Marlboroiig-h were again exposed to llie horrors
of Indian warfare. It will be difhcult for us, who are permitted to
dwell in security under the shelter of the domestic roof, to form
an adequate idea ol' the perilous condition of our forefathers, at
this gloomy period. " We have, indeed, heard within our ears,
and our fathers have told" us the story of their dangers and sufier-
ings " in the waste and howlinsf wilderness.'" But how dillicult to
enter into the icelings of men, who were in constant peril for their
lives; v^ho, like th.e chihlien ol" Israel in rebuilding the walls of
Jerusalem, repaired to their work with weapons in their hands,
and who were liable to be waked from their midnight slumbers by
the .savage yells of a pitiless foe? In many instances were they
*Siraeon Howard was the father of Cornet Simeon Howarr",, an(l of Jona-
than llowari], wiiosf son, Giili-on Howard, removed to Wortlungtou, in this
state, where his descendants, it is su|iposed, btill live.
Simon Howard, Senior, liom Concord, was another of the first settlers.
His house siood near the liearae house, on the land of Mr. Asa I'ay.
It is n.it known whether the fcinieon Howard mentioned above, was re-
lated to Simeon Howard, U. D. late pa^^tor of the west church in Boston.
Adam Holh.way, fnnn (Jonconl, (died in 173J, aged iiU,) and his son
Lieut. Wm. HoUoway, (died Jan. U, 17U0, aged 7 1,) settled on the farm now
owned by Stephen Willjanis, I'sq.
I^ieut. Wm. Hodoway, mtirried Mary, (ditd March 9, 1788, ag^ed 94.) a
daughter of Simeon Howard, Senior, by wliom he had two sons and f'ur
daughters. 'I'lie sons died younir. (M tiie danghtii;s, Mary, married Jonathan
Bartb tt, died l)tc. '.2'i, 11(21, aged 95. — llannali, married Capt. James Stone,
of Wt-sti-rn. — I3elty, marriid I'aniel Wheeler, of Hardwick. — Jemima, mar-
ried Jotin Taylor, who died at St. Albans, \t.
John Taylor, was tin- father of C<d. Ilolloway Taylor now of St. Albans
and of John Taylor, F.sq an Attormy at law, at Northampton.
Gershom Fay, Si-uior, was "ne ol'tlie first si:itlers of liiis town. He was
the son of Joha l-'ay, of Marlborough, married Mary, a daughter of John
Erig'aain, dii-d in 1720. He lived at fust in the easti-.rly part of the town, af-
terwards, built a lii>use on the Coram /'.//vn, near the bend ol the road, between
the dwelling house of Capt. Ila«tings, and tnat of Steph( n Williams, Esq.
His childr^jn were Gershom, Mary, Su^anna, Sarah, Silas, Timothy, and Paul.
'Thomas Ward, from Viarlborougii, was the tir^t ?ettler on the farm now
in the possession of A^aph Rice ; ami Dtac. Isaac 'Tomblia on tlie farm of the
late i)rac. Isaac :)a\is.
Heztkiah 'i'omblifi, lived first on 'Tomblin Hill, so called ; Ephraim Bee-
man, on the farm ol Samuel |)alrym|)le.
Josrph WheeitT, (lied in 1717, aijed 56,) lived on the southern declivity
of Ball's Hill, so called.
Epliraiin Allen, from lloxbnry, purchased of an Kleazer How, a few acres
of land, with a grist mill erected thereon, the site of the present mill, and
Cotton Factory. This was the first, and for many years the on\y grist mill,
in this town.
28
MISTORy OF NORTHBOnouaH.
compelled to desert their farms, leaving their lands nntilled, while
old and young, the strong and the feeble, flocked to the frail forti-
fications, denominated garrisons, as their only means of safety.
These were usually nothing more than common dwelling hous-
es, surrounded by palisades, and furnished with a supply of fire
arms and ammunition. In the year 1711, there were no fewer
than twenty six garrison houses witliin the limits ol" Marlborough,
to each of which were assigned, on nn average, five or six fami-
lies, the whole number of faauiies being one hundred and thirty
seven.*
*" MaRLROROTJCH, DF.CF.MBrR 11, 1711.
'' These several persons are allownl by tht- Csptain Ghnt-rall.
"The persons assigned to t- arh paiticiilar G.uriscn art; as followeth :
Ordereil, by us tlie Hnhsrribfrs. Ipy tht- 'iircction oi an act of the Generall
Court, entitled an act for the better security and deft nee of" the fronteers.
Capt. How's Garison.
Samuel Sleveus
James How
Jonathan How
Samuel Stow, Senior
Thomas Stow
Jonathan Morse.
Mr. Breck''s* Garisow.
Capt. Kerly's Garison.
Nathaniel Josliu
Joseph .Maynard
Deacon Woods
Nathaniel Johnson
Thomas Amsdea
Simon Gates
Joseph Johnson.
Capt. Bricham's Garisow.
Peter Plimpton
Benjamin Mixer
Isaac Amsdf-.n's Garison.
Thomas Newton
Sergeant Mainard
James Woods
Adam .Martin
Is. Tt-mpcls
Deacon Newton
John imsden.
Lieut. Williams' Garison.
Thomas* Ijeinan
Peter r.eiit
Richard Barns
Edward Barns
Ensign How's Garisok.
Ensign Bouker
Joseph Wait
David Church
Benjamin Rice
Peter Rice
Jacob Rice
Joseph Rice.
Samuel Morril's Garison.
Sergeant Barret
John Barns
Benjamin Baylis
Joseph Ward
Joshua Rice
Thomas Martin
Samuel Bush.
Thomas Brigham's GARisojy.
Jonathan Brigham
Oliv. r Ward
Increas Ward.
John How's Garison.
Zac. Eager
Abraham Eager
Daniel Jolmson
Samuel Wheelock
Obadiah Ward
Thomas Axtel.
1«, How's Garison.
Moses Newton
David Fay
John N- wton
"Widdow Johnson
Moses Newton, Jr.
James Kady.
* This undoubtedly was the Rev. Robert Breck, the second Miaister of
Marlborough.
Samuel Goodfkow's Garison.
Nathaniel Oakts
HISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGM.
29
For several of the preceding years, the inhahitant'', especially
such as lived in the hordeis of the town, had been kept in a state
of constant anxiety and alarm, in consequence of the hostile atti-
tude of the Indinns.
Au:ru?t 8lh, 1704, a party of Indians, eip^ht or ten in num-
ber, rushed suddenly from the woods, and iell upon a number
Jonathan Faibush
Gt-rshoin l''ay.
Lieut. How's Garison.
Thomas Ward
Edward Jlice
Nathan Brigham's Garison.
Joseph Stiatten
Henry Jiartlett
Ellicksatider Steward.
Samuel Ward Senior's Garison.
VVilHam Ward
Widdow Hannah Ward
Jonathan Johnson, Senior
Caleb Rice.
John Mathew's Garisow.
William Johnsoa
Samuel Ward.
Daniel Rice's Garison.
Widdow Sarah Tayler
Suply Weeks
Elyazer Taylyer.
Samuel Forbush's Garisoit.
James Bradish
Thomas Forbush
James Glesson.
Edmond Rice's Garison.
David Brigham
Isaac Tomblin
David iMaynard.
Thomas Rice's Garison.
John Pratt
Charles Rice.
Thomas IIapgood's Garison.
John Farbush
John Wheeler
Jofiah How
B Curly (Kerly) Senior
Jamoa Curly.
Simon Mainaru's Garibon.
Adam Holloway
Bi'njaniin Whitney
Joseph Ncwtoa
John Keyes
Abrell Bush.
Mill Garison,
Thomas Barret
John Banister.
John Newton Jr's Garison.
Eliazer Bellows
John Bellows
James Eager
James Newton
Benjamin Newtoa
Ephraim Newtoa
John Woods
Abraham Newtoa.
Jonathan Newton's Garison.
Is. Woods
Thomas Witherbjr
Is. Amsden
Moses Lenard
Roger Bruce.
Joseph Morse's Garison.
Thomas Biglo
Samuel Biglo
Samuel Mors
John Biglo
John Slierman
Daniel Haringtou.
1
THOMAS HOW
SAMUEL BRIGHAM
ISAAC AMSUEN
ELEAZER HOW
DANIEL HOW
JOHN BOUKER
JONATHAN JOHNSON
NATHANIEL JOSLIN
PETER RICE
JOHN M.WNARD
^OHN BARRETT
- Committee."
30 niSTORY OF nORTHBOnOUGH.
of the inljatiitanfs of wliat is now Wostborouarh, while at work in
the tield; killed Nahor, a son of Mr. Kdniund Rico, on the *i)ot,
aeized and carried into cafnivity two other ^ons, Silas and Timo-
thy ; also Asliiir and Admijah, two sous of Mr. ^lonias Rice.
Ashtir was redoenied by his I'alaer, and returned in about four years.
He afterwards sellled in Si)encer. Adonijah remained in Canada,
cultivated a farm in the vicinity ol MoiUnal. His Indian name was
AsHunaugooton. Tlic other two lived anionic the Indians, mained
Indian wives, acquired llieir habits, and lost all knowled-re ol the
English language. The purilanical names of Silas and Tiniothy
were changed into the heathenish, hut not unmusical ones of I'no-
kanowras and Oughtsorongouglilon. The latter is said to have
been the third of the six chiefs of the Ciignawaga tribe, and the
one who made the speech to Gen. Gage, in behalf of his tribe,
soon after the reduction of Montreal. This chief, in tlie year 17 10,
thirty six years alter his captivity, visited his relations in Westbo-
rough, and retained, it is said, a distinct recollection of the circum-
stances of his captivity, and of several aged persons then living.
IMr. Seth Rice, father of the late Dcac. Seth Rice, and who died in
179G, aged 91, was a brother, and Thankful, wife of the late Mr.
Josiah Rice, was a sister, of the above nanied Silas and Timoihy.
In the preceding month, (July) two of the inliabitanls of Marl-
borough, viz. Abraham How and Denjamin llutchins, were slain by
the Indians at Lancaster.
On the 15th of October, 1705. Mr. Jolin Tiglow, of Marlborough,
being then at Lancaster, at the garrison house ot i\lr. Thomas Saw-
yer, was, with Mr. Sawyer and his son Elias, taken by the Indians,
and conveyed to Canada. They obtained their release in the fol-
lowing manner: Both of them were ingenious mechanics, one,
(Saivyer) a blacksmith, the other, (Higlow) a carpenter. While
they were at Montreal, ihey projjosed to the French Governor, who
resided in that city, that, in case he would procure their ransom,
they would erect fur him a saw mill, there being none at that time
in all Canada. The offer was readily accepted ; thi^y fulfilled their
engagement, and, after some delays, were permitted to return to
their friends, with whom they lived to a good old age. J\lr. Bi"--
low, in token of his gratitude for his remarkalile deliverance from
captivity, called his daughter, born soon alter his return, " Free-
dom ;" and a second, boi-n some time afterwards, he called ''Com-
fort," as expressive of the happiness and peace he then enjoyed,
contrasted with the hardships and fears of a state of captivity.
HISTORY OF NOKTHliOROUiilf. 3 I
Comfort was married lo Josc|)h Briu'hani, llu; Oiilior nC Mr. Jonah
lingliatn, of tliis town, uho, when a child, nl'ti'n lisleaod to tho :ic-
couiit tjiven by his a:randfall»cr Bigiow, of tin: ciicimidtaiices of hia
captivity and (^scapn.
Ill 1707, August I8II1, the loUowinpf trnirical event oociirrcHl in
what is now the easterly part of A orlhlioronii^h. There was at
this lime a garrison lionse standing- on the soiitli side of the road,
near the hrooli, known by tbe name of Slin up lirook, which cros-
ses llie great road between the farms of [Messrs. Jonas and (Jill
Bartlett, then in the possession of 8;.mu(>l Goodenow. As W.iry
Goodenow, daughter of Samuel, and JMrs. Wary Fay, wife of Ger-
shom I'ay, were gatherinj^ herbs in tlie adjoining nu^adow, a party
of Indians, twenty four in nunil)er, all of whom aro said lo have
been stout warriors, were seen issuing from the woods and mailing
towards them. Mrs. Fay succeeded in etlVcting her escape. She
was closely pursued by a parly of tlic enemy ; but before they
came up, had time to enter the garrison, and to fasten the gate of
the enclosure. There fortunately happened to be one man tlieii
within, the rest of the men belonging to the garrison being in the
fields at work. Their savage invaders attempted in vain to break
through the enclosure. These beroic defenders, by dint of great
exertion, maintained the unequal conHict, till a party of Iriends,
alarmed by the re[iort of the muskets, came to their relief, when
the enemy betook themselves to llight.*
Tbe other unfortimate yohng woman, Miss Goodenow, being re-
tarded in her tlight by lameness, was seized by her merciless pur-
suers, dragged across the brook to the siile of the hill, a little south
of the road, where she was killed and scalped, and where her man-
gled body was afterwards Ibund and buried, and where her grave
is shown at this day.
On the following day, tlie enemy were pursued by a company
of about thirty men, from Marlborough and Lancaster, and over-
* Mrs.- Fay, it is said, disrovtrcd great prt'S( nee of mind during this as-
sault, being coiislantly i^njiloytd in loading and relo.iding the. niusktls be-
longing to the garrison, an<i handing tluni to her conipai.ion, who by thia
Dieans was able to keep up a constant lire upon the invaders. No wonder
that she was brave, for sjie tiad much at stake. >he was then the mother of
two young children, one lour, ami the otlur two years old. G« rshom, fath-
er of tlie late Thaddeus I' ay, and Mary, afterwards inarrii d ti. (Jeoig( t^mllh.
Her third, called b^usanna, who was liorn on the Itith of the following IVovem-
ber, was subject to a constant nervous trembling, caust d, it is supposed, by
the mother's fright, received at this time. At her father's death, Nov. 24,
1720, she was left to the care of her brother, the late Timothy Fay, with
■whom she lived till her decease.
32 _ HISTORY OF NORTtlBOROUGH.
taken in what is now Sterling, where a hard conflict ensued, in
»vhich nine of their number, and two of our men were slain, la
one of their packs was (bund tlie scalp of the unfortunate Miss
Goodenow, which was the first intimation that was obtained of her
melanclidiy late.
Nothing worthy of record is preserved of what took place be-
tween this period* and the incorporation of the westerly part of
Marlborough, then called Chauncey Village, and including what is
now Westboroiigh and Northborough. The act of incoi'poration is
dated November 19, 1717, O. S. or, in our present reckoning, No-
vember 30.
In the tall of 1718, the first meeting house was raised, which
stood near the northern limits of Westborough, not far from the
public house kept by Mr. Silas Wesson. It was not, however, till
October 28, 1721, or nearly seven years after tlie town was incor-
porated, that a church was gathered, and the Rev. JMr. Parkman,
the iirst minister of Westborough, was ordained.
It was at this house that our fathers, the tirst settlers of North-
borough, worshipped for more than twenty years, some of them
being accustomed to walk every Sabbath the distance of five or
six miles.
At length, October 20, 17i4, the town of Westborough, consist-
ing at that time of one hundred and twenty five families, was di-
vided into two precincts; the north part, to use the words of Rev.
Mr. Parkman, "-being indeed very small."! The number of families
set off to the north precinct was only thirty eight ; while eighty
seven families remained attached to the old society. Nor was the
separation effected without much oppositiorr, and mutual recrimina-
tion, the unhappy effects of which lasted many years.
Having arrived at that period of our history, when Northbo-
rough became a separate precinct, we proceed to give some ac-
count of its boundaries, dimensions, face of the soil, &.c.
* 1 find, from a rf-cord kept by Col. Williams, of Marlborough, that Jon-
athan Johnson was .'ilain by tlie Indians, Ociober 12, 17U0, but at what place,
and under what circumstances, 1 have not been able to ascertain.
t The act of the General Court, setting ciT the north part of Westbo-
rough as a separate precinct, provides, " that the Inhabitants of said north
part should give security to Rev. Mr. Parkman, Iht-ir present pastor, to give
him £lOO, lawful money, settlement, and JC50, like money, per annum, in
case he should incline to settle with them, at^reeably to what they now prom-
ise ; or otherwise, £12, l0.f. like money, if he chooses to continue in the south
part." It is unnecessary to add, that Rev. Mr. Parkman chose to remain
the minister of the old parish, lie died Dec. 9, 1782, in the 8Ulh year of his
age, and the 59th of his ministry.
HISTORY OF NORTIlEOnoUCH. 33
BouNDARiRS, &c. — A plan of the town was made in 1795, by Mr.
i^lilas Keyes, surveyor, then an inhabitant of the place. AccoT'liiipf
to this phin, Nortliborough contained 10096 acres, including ponds
and roads. Since that date, that is, Feb. 15, 18U6, the dividing
line between this town and Berlin, was by mutual consent, altered
so as to bring both towns into a better shape ; and in June 20, 1807,
the line between Nortliborough and Marlborough was altered, so
as to include the farm of Deac. Jonas Bartlett, within the limits of
this town. In its present state, the town contains about 10,150
acres.
The boundaries according to the plan made in 1795, are as fol-
lows* : — Beginning at the southwest corner, at a heap of stones on
Shrewsbury line, it thence runs east, nineteen degrees north, four
hundred and eighty nine rods, to a stake by the river Assabelh ;
thence, in a northeasterly direction, as tiie river runs, one hundred
and seventy six rods, to the County road, near the dwelling house
of Phineas Davis, Esq. ; thence, by said river, one hundred and
ninety four rods, to a stake and stones.; thence east, twenty degrees
nortlj, eight hundred and sixty four rods, to a slake and stones on
Southborough line. (The above are the boundaries between
Nortliborough and VV^estborough.) From the last mentioned bounds,
the line runs north, thirty two degrees west, one hundred and forty
rods by Southborough, to a stake and stones at the corner of Marl-
borough. (The above are the boundaries between Northboroiigh
and Southborough.) From Marlborough corner the line ran, ac-
cording to the plan of Mr. Keyes, north, thirty degrees forty live
nunutes west, one hundred and eighty seven rods, to a stake and
stones; thence north, forty degrees thirty minutes west, one hun-
dred and ten rods, to do. ; thence north, twenty two degrees thirty
minutes west, one hundred and lorty eight rods, to do. ; thence
north, thirty two degrees west, forty rods, to a swamp \vhite oak;
thence north, twenty nine degrees west, seventy two rods, to a
stake and stones; thence north, thirty degrees west, sixty four rods,
to do. by the County road ; thence north, thirty one degrees forty
minutes west, seventy seven roils, to do. ; thence north, twenty
eight degrees tiftecn minutes west, one hundred and twenty eight
rods, to a walnut tree by the river; thence north, thirty three de-
grees thirty minutes west, sixty eight rods, to a large oak tree
marked ; thence north, twenty seven degrees west, forty seven
* For the alterations referred to above, see Massachusetts Special Lawj,
Vol. IV, p. 3aad IV2.
34 ni*TORY OF NORTIinOV.OUGM.
rods, to a pine tree mmked; tlicnce north, thirty one degrees thir-
ty mlniitps \vest, one hundred aiid twenty nine rods, to a stake and
stones l)y Berlin line or corner. (The ahove were the former
bounds helween Nortlihorough and Marlhorongh ; for the alteration
see note.) Fn-m lierlin corner, the line ran north, thirty degrees
west, one hiimJred and forty eight rods, to i. heap of stones; thence
east, thirty two degrees north, ninety rods, to the Long Stone, so
called ; tlience west, sixteen degrees north, eight hundred and ten
lods, to a heap of stones on Boylslon line. (IMiese were tiie for-
mer hounds hetwecn Nortlihorough and Berlin ; for the alteration
see note.) I'hf'nce south, sixteen degrees west, eight hundred
and sixty eight rods, to a heap of stones at Shrewshury corner,
('riiis is the line helwefu Northhoron2:h and l^oylston.) Thence
soujh, sijcteeu deirroes west, one hundrt'd and forty riine rods, to a
heap (;f atones. ('I'iiis is -'ipposed to he on or near thu old Marl-
borotigli line, which extiMidcd thence in one dirert'on to the norih-
west corner of iVlarll»oiou>jh.) Tiience south, tweiity four degrees
cast, one hundred ami eighty two roil<, to ii gre;it o;di ; thence
south, twenty one degrees ea<t, one lumdred Jiitd fiity rod-:, to a
heap of stones ; th<'nce south, one degree east, twenty rods to the
County road ; thence, in th<; same ilircetic n, three hundred and
seventeen rods, to a red oak ; thence south, twenty eight degrees
thirty five minutes east, one hundred and ninety four rods, to where
it began. (These are the bounds between Nortlihorough and
Shrewshury.)
Besides what was originally a part of Marlborough, this town
includes a large tiiangular tract, lying north of the old Marlborough
line, (of which the Coram Farm and the Brown Farm made a part)
and containing, as has been estimated, between two and three thou-
sand acres. This tract, with several others now in the westerly
part of Westborough, was surveytnl in January and February,
171f)-lG, by U'm. Ward, and annexed to Chauncey Village by a
grant of the General Court, before the latter was separated from
Marlborough,
In March and April. 1721, this tract was again surveyed by
James Keyes; and a committee, consisting of John Sherman, Da-
vid Brigham, and Joseph Wheeler, ivas appomted to lay it out in
forty live shares, according to the number of the proprietors, which
shares were afterwards divided among them by lot.
Besides the above tract, the principal part of the farm of Deac.
HISTORY OF NOnTHllOROUOH. 35
Caleb Fiicc, of Marlborough,* which lay without the original boun-
daries of the town, with another tract nearly as large, adjoining the
former, falls within the limits of Northborongh, forming the soutli-
west angle of the town.
Norlhborough is of an irregular form, its average length being
about five miles, and its average breadth somewhat more than
three miles.
SuuFACL,, Soil, &:c. — The principal part of the town consists of
a valley, environed by the hills of ftlarlborongh on the east, Berlin
on the north, and Boylston and Shrewsbury on the west, and open-
ing into Westborougli on the south, which town is an extension of
the same low grounds. The surface of this valley is, however, di-
versified by numerous hills, some of which are so considerable as
to be distinguished by uames. The northwest corner of the town,
comprehending five or six good farms, and more than 1000 acres of
laud, forms part of the ridge of high land, running from Berlin,
through Boylston and Shrewsbury, and is commonly called Ball's
Ilill.t
Liquor Hill is a beautiful eminence, rising with a gentle decliv-
ity from the great road, nearly opposite to the church, skirted with
forest trees, while its summit and its northern and southern declivi-
ties are open to the view and form a rich and pleasing prospect.
Edmund Ilill, about a mile in the northerly direction from the
ehurcli, and Cedar Ilill, in the southeastern part of the town, are
similar in form to Liquor Hill, but less open to observation.
Northborongh is well supj)lied with streams of water. The
principal stream is the river Assaboth, which, rising in Grafton, and
crossing an angle of Westborough, flows diagonally in a northeast-
ern direction, through this town, crossing the great road, about
half a mile east of the church, and lurnishing several valuable wa-
ter privileges.
Cold Harbour Brook rises in Shrewsbury, crosses the southeast
corner of Boylston, and enters this town. Having received a small
* l^eac. Cnleb Rice was the fathtr of the late Josiah Rice, of this town,
who died 179"2, ugcd OJ, ami who came into possession of the farm abovemen-
tioaed, anil was une of the ofreatt-st landholders in the town. That farm
alone contained above live Inindred acres, besides which, he owned several
hundred acres in other parts of the town.
t So called from two brothers, James and Nathan Ball, from Watertown,
v.ho settled there about the year 17-JO, and where some of their descendants
still live. James, the father of the late Doct. Stephen Ball, and grandfather
of the present Doct. Stephm liall. Sen. died 175C, aged C'2. Nathan, father
of Nathan Ball, died 17tJ8, aged 73.
17^ons>o
^ 1
36 HISTORY or NORXHBOROUUH.
Iribiilary stream from Rocky Poml, in Boylston, and supplying wa-
ter for a Grist and Saw Mill, it flows in a very circuitous route
through a tract of rich intervales and extensive meadows, crossing
the road at Cold Harbour bridge, a fevv rods south of the church,
and having received another small stream from the west, on which
a Saw Mill is erected, it falls into the Assabeth, a little below where
the latter crosses the great road.
In the easterly part of the town, a small stream, called Stirrup
Brook, issuing from Little Chauticey f^nd, furnishes a supply of
water for a Saw Mill, and is bordered by a rich intervale and
meadows.
Another small stream, called Hop Brook, from the abundance
of wild hops which formerly grew on its bank**, rises in Shrews-
bury, crosses the southwest angle of this tciwn, furnishing water
for two Saw Mills and one Grist Mill, and falls into the Assabeth,
soon after that river enters the town. It appears, therelbre, that
all the waters of Northborough fall into the Assabeth, which con-
veys them to the Merrimack between Chelmslord and Tewksbury.
The two principal ponds in N'orthborDUi^h ;ire the Little Chaun-
. eey, in the southeastern part of the tuw n, containing sixty tive acres,
and Solomon's Pond, in the northeastern part, containing twenty six
acres. Little Chauncey takes its name from Great Cbauncey, in
Westborough, with which it is connected by a small stream. It is
a beautiful sheet of water, well stored with tish, its bordt-rs in part-
fringed with woods, while to the east, it opens towards cultivated
fields. Solomon's Pond, so named from Solomon, an Indian, who
was drowned in it, is not destitute of beaut}', and is encompassed
by a tract of excellent land.
The soil is in general rich and productive, the poorest bcino-.
as Whitney justly observes, that " which ajipears as we travel the
great road." In the northern part of the town, the land is rocky
and hard, though it produces good crops of bay and grain. In the
middle and southern parts the land is more level, and if not more
productive, is cultivated with much less labor and expense.
Roads, &,c. — The principal road is the old Worcester Post road,
which passes through the middle of the town, about forty rods south
of the Meeting House. The distance to Boston from this town is
34 miles ; to Worcester 10 miles. Four Stages, furnishing a daily
Mail from the east and from the west, pass on this road every da}',
Sundays excepted.
The old County road from Framinghamto Worcester, al«o lead?
HISTORV OF NORTHBOROl/OH. 37
through the south part of the town ; and (he Worcester Turnpike
crosses the southwest angle, passing one house only in Northbo-
rough. Tlie roads from Lancaster to this pi. ice, one of which pas-
ses the Meeting House in Berlin, and that Aoni Boylston, are much
travelled. The distance to Lancaster is 10 miles; to Boylston G;
to Westbi)roogh 4^ miles.
The highways are kept in repair by an annual tax of from jj500
to $800.
ft! ILLS, Manufactories, &:c. — Northborough contains at present
four Grist Mills, five Saw Mills, two Carding Machines, a manufac-
tory for Hoes and Scythes ; large and commodious works recently
established by Capl. Thomas VV. Lyon, for manufacturing Cotton
ftLachinery ; an extensive Tannery owned by f hinehas and Joseph
Davis, Esquires, whose annual sales of leather amount to ^20,000.
There are also six Coopers, four Blacksmiths, one Saddle and Har-
ness Maker, one Book Binder, three Wheelwrights, eight or tea
Shoemakers, who, besides supplying the wants of the town, manu-
facture about 4000 pairs of shoes annually for a foreign market.
The Cotton Factory, built in 1814, by the Northborough Manufac-
turing Company, at an expense of about $30,000, was lately sold at
auction, and is now in the possession ol Rogerso.i & Co. of Boston,
and Isaac Davis, Esq. and Mr. Asaph Rice, of this town. It stands
on the river Assabeth, which furnishes a sufficient supply of water
during the principal part of the season ; and contains over 700 spin-
dles for Cotton, and 100 for Woollen, 10 looms, a fulling mill, card-
ing machine, &c. and manufactures 80,000 yards of cloth annually.
There are in the town, two stores, furnished with a good as-
sortment of English and West India Goods, the one kept by GalQ
&: Davis ; the other by Rice, Farnsworth, & Co.
Population, Deaths, &.C. — At the time of the ordination of Rev.
Mr. Martyn, (1746) there were 40 families in the place ; the num-
ber had increased to 82 families at the ordination of Rev. Mr. Whit-
ney, (1767); and, in 1796, to more than 110 families. By the cen-
sus of 1810, the number of inhabitants was 794 ; by that of 1820,
1018, making an increase of 224 in ten years. By a census taken
the last winter, however, and which it is believed is very nearly
accurate, the whole number of inhabitants was only 946, of whom
488 were males, and 458 females.
In the autumn of 1746, the year that Rev. Mr. Martyn ivas or-
dained, and for several following years, particularly in 1749 and
1750, this society was visited by a very mortal sickness among
38
HISTOnV OF NORTHEOROUGH.
children, by which the growth of the society must have been very
sensibly checked, and wliich must have been attended with circum-
stances of* peculiar di.>-tress.*
Sixty children, out of :i populntion which could not have much
exceeded three hundred, fell victims to the denolating i)es(ilence ;
and, with the exception of one adult, (Benjamin Kugg, a stranger,)
were the first persons that were buried in the new church yard.t
This was the last sweeping, mortal sickness, with which this
place has been visited.
Since the great sicknesss, in the years 1749 and 1750, no town
in this vicinity has been more exem|)t from wasting, mortal distem-
pers. The number of deaths from 1700, to 1800, including a peri-
od of twenty years, amounted to only 146, averaging a little more
than 7 in a year. During the first twenty five years of the present
century, the number was 282. The average number for the last
ten years has been about 11^ annually, in a population of n«;arly a
thousand souls. The whole number of deaths from 1780, to the
present date, (June, 1826) is 450 ; of whom seventy eight were 70
years and upwards ; forty three, 80 years and upwards ; seventeen,
90 years and upwards; one (Wid. Hannah Fayf) in her hundredth
year; and one (Deac. Jonathan Livermore§) one hundred years
and seven months. There are now living in this town, five or six
*The sickness which prnvailed in 1746, Capt. Timothy Bri^ham informs
me, was the dysentery, then called, '•■ the fever atid flux.'" Capt. B. then a
child of 10 years old, lost a sister, and was himself sick of the disease He
thinks that as many as 30 children died that year, in tliis place. He recol-
lects being attended in his sickness by F'oct. Benjamin Gott, of Marlborough.
T lie sickness of 1749 and 1750, was the " throat distemper," as it was termed,
which, for many years after its first appearance ia New England, proved sucli
a desolating scourge.
rtThe old burying ground, in which many of the first settlers of North-
borough were interred, is east of the road leadirg to VVestborongh, a little
south of the dwelling house of Mr. William Maynard. It is now over-^rowa
with trees and brush. °
:j: Widow Hannah Fay was a daughter of Nathaniel Oaks, was married
to Gershom Fay, father of the late Ihaddeus Fay, and died, March 8, 180G,
aged 100.
} Deac. Livermore came from Watertown about A. D. 1720, and Settled
on the Brown (arm, so called, where Uavi) IJinsrnore now lives. He was the
lirst Parish Clerk in this place, which office he held manyytars. He died
April CO, ICOI, aged II>1. A short time after he was lUO >ears old, he rode
on horseback from his house to a militarv review, near the middle of the
town, the distance of three miles, and returned without fatigue. He posses-
sed uncommon learning for his time, was an accurate surveyor, and an excel-
lent penman, owmg to which circumstance, the early records of the town &V'.
pear in a remarkably fine slate.
HISTORY OF NORTIlDOnOUGH. 39
persons o^ro^ eighty yeurs ; ancl one, (C;ipt. Timothy Brighain,*)
in his ninety first year. One couple (Citpt. Amos Ricet and his
wife) still survive, who wore joined in niarriuge helore the death
of Rev. Mr. Martyn, who baptised their first cl)ild. They were
married May 8lh, 176G, and have lived together more than sixty
years.
The average number of births for a year, has been, of late, about
thirty ; which, deducting the deaths, will give an annual increase of
from fit'teen to twenty souls.
Civil Histohy. — Notliing has been found on record relating to
the part which this town bore in the old French -jcars^ as we have
been accustomed to hear them called by our aged fathers. We
learn, however, from the few who survive of the generation then
on the stage of active life, that this small, district was not backward
in furnishing men to join the several expiditions, which were under-
taken for the conquest of the French in Canada.
Eliphalet Warren, John Carrulh, and Adam Fay, joined the ex-
pedition to Halifax, in 1754. In the following year, Benjamin Flood
and Eber Eager, the latter of whom did not live to return, were at
Crown point. In 1753, the eiglit following persons were with the
army under General Abercrombie, at his defeat before Ticondero-
ga. Capt. Timothy Biigham, [now living and who retains a per-
fect recollection of the scenes he passed through in this ill-fated
expedition,] Eliphalet Stone, Samuel Stone, [who died on his re-
turn,] Benjamin Flood, Josiah Bowker, Samuel Morse, Gideon How-
ard, and Joel Rice. Capt. Brigham says that the attack ujion the
French lines commenced at 5 oVlock, A. M. and lasted till 7 o'clock,
P. RI. ; and that over 1900 of our men were missing at the calling
of the rolls that evening. Capt. B. says that after this repulse, the
army retreated to Lake George, soon after which, the company to
*Capt. Timothy Brighatn is a sou of Jesse, 'who was a son of Jonathan,
who was a son ol T homas Brifiham, one of the early st Ulcrs of IVIarl borough,
He was present at the dt feat o! the t'lighsh, under Aherrronibie, ticfore 'I'i-
con()erog;a, in 1758, and Lieutenant of the company of minute nun lliat march-
ed down to Camtiridi^e on the nunioiable 19th of April, Mlh. Jonathan
Brighani was in the Indian fight, at l.ancas-ter, (now Sterling) Aug. 19, 1707,
and stood next to Richard Singletary, who was killed in the action. This
fact, Capt. B. had from his own mouth,
t Capt. Amos Rice is a son of Jacob, who was a son of Jacob, ^\ho was
a son of Edward, one of the 13 original petitioners for the I'lantatioD of Marl-
borough, Benjamin, another son of F.dward, was the father ol Ueac. Matthi-
as Rice, and of Simeon Rice, late of this town, and of z^erubbabel Rice, late
of Marlborough. 'I'radilion says, that the first person by the name of Rice,
who emigrated to New England, had eight soiis, all of whom lived to be 90
years old and npwards.
4U IIISTORV 01' NOKTHUOnoUiiM.
which he belongeJ (C;ipt. Stephen Maynard's of" Weslborough) was
dismissed and returned home.
There is one man, now Uvini^ in this town, at the age of 00,
nearly, [Lieut. Abraham IMunroe] who was at Halifax, in the regi-
ment of Maj. Rogers, of Londonderry, N. U. in the year 1757,
and, at the taking,' of Ticonduroga under Gen. Amherst, in 1759.
lilr. Munroe had there the rank of Ensign; and, in the following
year, received a Lieutenancy. He served in the Regiment of Col.
S.iltonstal, of Haverhill; and, at the departure of our army for Mon-
treal, received orders to remain at the head of a detachment of
men, for the purpose of completing the repairs of the (ortitications
at Crown Point. Lieut. Munroe continued at Ticonderoga, till his
discharge, in May, 1763, under Capt. Omsbury, or Amsbury, to
Avhom the command of the fort had been committed.
Several other persons belonging to this toAvn, whose names I
have not learned, were in service at different times during the
French wars, some of whom did not live to return.
The following particulars have been collected relating to the
part which this town bore in the burdens and privations of the
revolutionary war.
It appears from the town records, that the inhabitants of this
town, took an early and decided stand in defence of the liberties of
our country. So early as March, 22d, 1773, more than two years
before hostilities commenced, a number of spirited resolutions were
passed at a district meeting, called for the purpose, among which
were the following :
" 2. Voted, as the opinion of this district, that it is the indispen-
sable duty of all men and all bodies of men to unite and strenuously
to oppose by all lawful ways and means, such unjust and unright-
eous encroachments, made or attempted to be made upon their just
rights; and that it is our duty earnestly to endeavor to hand those
rights down inviolate to our posterity, as they were handed to us
by our worthy ancestors.
" 3. Voted, that the thanks of this district be given to the town
of Boston tor their friendly, seasonable and necessary intelligence ;
and that they be desired to keep their watch, and guard against all
such invaders and incroaches for the future.
"4. Voted, that Capt. Bez. Eager, Doct. Stephen Ball, and Mr.
Timothy Fay, be a commiitee to make answer to the committee of
corres., at Boston, informing them of the opinion of this district in
this matter."
HJsronY oi voi'.TiiKOHOiu.ri. • 41
In August of the folloiving; year, eight months before the war
commenced, at a special n>eeting called for the purpose, the district
passed (he following vote. — "That we are determined to defend
our charter rights and privileg-es, at the ri.xk of our lives and for-
tunes, and (hat the town desire Ihe committee of corres[»ondence,*
to write lo their brethren in Boston, and inform them thereof"
In November, 1774, the district voted to appropriate money in
the treasury to buy one hundred pounds of powder ; three hundred
pounds of lead, and two hundred and forty tlints; and on June 3d,
1776, it was resolved, '4hat it was the mind of this town (o he inde-
pendent of Great Britain, in case the Conlinental Congress think
proper ; and that we are ready with our lives and fortunes, if in
Providence ciiUed, to defend the same."
Some time before the war broiie out, a company of fifty minute
men was raised in this town, under the command of the late Capt.
Samuel Wood, who held themselves in readiness to march at a mo-
ment's warning, whenever and wherever hostilities should com-
mence.! At length the memorable lOlhof April arrived, on wliich
day, the first blood in our Revolutionary struggle was shed, at Lex-
ington and Concord. On the same day, before one o'clock, P. M,
the tidings reached this place. The company of minute men be-
longing to this town was collecting at the time to listen to an oc-
casional patriotic discourse from Rev. Mr. Whitney. They were
directed without a moment's delay, to put themselves in readiness
to march; and in three or four hours from the time when the news
arrived, they had taken le&ve of their families and were paraded
in the yard of Capt. Woods' house, whence (tlje Rev. Mr. Whitney
having in a fervent prayer commended them to the protection of
the God of armies,) they immediately .set out on their march for
the field of danger and of blood. |
*rhe followino^ persons were a otanclin» committpp of Correspondence, in
1774. Bezaleel Eaorer, Seth Rice, Jr. Levi Drig:li:im. G :11am Buss, and John
Ball. Ill the foUowino; year, the ever nieinorablt- 1775, thi^re wi-re seven oq
the coiiiiuittee of conespomlence, viz. Tiiadtiis Fay, John 9all, Jot;l Rice,
Amos Rice, [now liviugj Artemas Hrijham, J.^thro Pc-ttrs, and Nathan Green.
1.
t April 10th, 1775, the town voted to p:\y fifty minute men one shilling
each, for each half day they shall meet to learn the Military art, for sixteen
hall days ; and granted £40 for that purpose. 'Ihe town also voted that Mr.
Timothy Bri;jhani, Constable, pay to Henry Gardner, Ksq. th<> I'rovince tax,
which he lias now in his hdiuis, for the year 1773. and the District will in-
demnify him. Also Voted, to indemnify the Assessors for not making the
province tax for the year 1774.
X Of the fifty men belonging to this company, the following persons are
now living ia this towa. Capt. I'imothy Brigham, then the Lieut, of tht
42
HISTOUY OF NOnTllEOnOl'UII.
Nor did the spirited resolutions, aboi'e adverted to, cud in idle
words. They were the result of rellection and patriotic principle ;
and they |pd to the cheorlul eiuliinince of privations and hardships,
of which the descendants can probably I'orm no adequate concep-
tion.
At one time five, and soon after three, at another five, at anoth-
er seven, and on one occasion seventeen men, were called for from
this small town by the General Court, and were marched in some
instances, several hundred miles, to mingle in the scenes of war.*
In the sprint of 1781, ag^reeably to a resolve of the General
Court, this town was divided into eight classes, each class being re-
quired to furnish a man to serve In the Continental Army for the
term of three years, or during the war. And what is worthy of re-
mark, as it is an evidence of the patriotic spir'U which prevailed
among this people in the preceeding autumn, viz. December 28,
1780, the town, taking into consideration the hardships undergone
by those who had entered into the service of their country, and es-
pecially the losses they bad sustained, by being paid in a depreciat-
ed currency, generously voted to raise their quota of men, and to
pay and clothe them at their own expense, allowing them 40 shill-
ings each, per month, in hard money, and £2[ per year, also iu
hard money, in addition to their clothes. t
Six men more were called for from this town in the following,
summer; five to go to West Point, and one to Rhode Island, who
we-e accordingly raised, and the town granted £122 5.v. in hard
money, (or $tO7,50,) to pay the same. At the same time, they
were required to purchase, for the use of the army, 3518/^5. of beef,
for which the town granted £77, in hard money (or $2bQ>fiG.) The
%vhole amount granted at this meeting, and which went to the sup-
port of the war, was therefore ;J,GG 1,1 6 in hard money ; which, con-
sidering the popul.ition of t!ie town and the value of hard money
at that period, was a great sum and must have been felt as a heavy
burden. Previous to the June, 1778, it appears from the town
I
company, Capi. Amos Rice, Mr. Isaac How, Mr. Joseph Pever, Mr. Reuben
Babcock, ami ./1r. Nathan Rice. Capt. .Sarnuel Wood, the commander of
the company, diid September i.M, l«l[j, aged 75 years. He was present, and
received a slight wound, at the hatlle of Diiuker UilL 'I'he Eiisijju of the
tonipany was .'\Ir. Thomas Sever, now of Townseud, iu this state.
*"July I3th, 1780, tlie town voted and f^ranted the sum often thousand
pounds to pay seventeen men hir. d into the service, niue for tlie term of six
months, and eight for the term of three mouths.'"
t Town Records, I. p. 212.
HISTORV OF NORTHROnoUGir. 43
records, that this town had expended in money and service towards
carrying on the war £1474 Ms. IJ. in a depreciated currency
prohahiy, the precise value of which, it is difficult now to deter-
mine.*
Such, we presume is no more than a fair specimen of the bur-
dens borne by the community in support of the war of our Indepen-
dence, and of the s[)irit with which they wore borne.
In many, very many instances indeed, the people were impov-
erished and brougiit low. But tliey were not disheartened ; and,
by the smiles of a merciful Proviilence, their efforts were crowned
with complete success. Let us who have entered into their labors
not forget what we owe to that tar-famed generation, who support-
ed the privations and hardsiiips of a long and harrassing conflict, in
support of our cherished liberties.!
The number was small of those who had refused to embark in
the cause of liberty, the names of four only being recorded as ab-
sentees, whose estates were confiscated near the close of the war.|
The patriotism of two others was indeed suspected, and they
were subjected to a good deal of inconvenience in consequence of it.§
* The town records contain a list of the names of 90 persons (probably
the whole number who paid taxes) with the amount contributed by each.
''October 30, 178(3, the town granted j£G6C0 to purchase beef for the
army." This I suppose was when the depreciation of money was nearly, or
quite at the lowest ebb, about which time, £,-2'J33 Gs. lid. were granted to
Ilev. Mr. Whitney by an unanimous vote of the town, in audition to hifi yearly
salary.
"May 17, 1701, the town ^ranted the sum of jCSoOO Os, Od. to pay for
three horses for the use of the Continental army."
t Among the survivors of the soldiers of the revolution, in this town, five
received pensions from the U. States, agreeably to the law passed, April, 1818.
From all these, however, with the exception of two, one of whom has since
died, their pensions were withdrawn, after the modification of the law, in 18.0.
Since that time, two of the number, reduced to poverty, have recovered their
pensions ; and the only remaining one from whom it was withdrawn, and
who, depending on the pension, had involved himself in debt in erectin»a
small building for his accommodation, has been compelled to part with his
snug little farm, and is now, in his old age, reduced to the very verge of abso-
lute want. Such, so far as I have witnessed it, has been the operation of the
laws respecting pensions to Revolutionary Soldiers. It may be remarked
moreover, that the two to whom the pensions were continued, had been a
town charge, and were not regarded as very valuable members of the com-
munity.
|; These were .Tames Ea£;er and his son, .'ohn Eager ; and Ebenezer Cutler,
and Michael Martyn, sons in law of the late Capt. James Eager, of this town.
} These were John Taylor, and Sylvanus Billings. The former, a gen-
tleman of handsome property and who had been one of the leading men of
the town ; the latter also a man of considerable estate.
44
HISTORY oy NORTUBOROUGH.
After the close of the war, the embarrassments arising from the
want of a circulating medium, when almost all were deeply involv-
ed in debt, caused much uneasiness, and led the people to devise
measures for their removal. August 7th, 1786, Isaac Davis was
chosen as a delegate to attend a County Convention, at Leicester,
on the 16th inst. to whom the following, among other instructions,
were given by a committee appointed by the town. The delegate
was to use his influence '^that the Convention petition his Excel-
lency, the Governor, and Council, to call the General Court togeth-
er, in the month of October next, at fartherest ; and that the Conven-
tion present a humble and decent petition to the General Court to
set up and establish a mint in the Commonwealth, &.c." Complaints
were also made of the salaries of the civil list, being so high, and of
various other grievances under which the people labored.* There
was nothing, however, of the spirit of rebellion or insubordination
in the resolutions that were passed at this meeting, or in the con-
duct which followed ; and though it appears from the representa-
tions of all, that the people generally were reduced to the greatest
straits, yet only three or four individuals were found willing to
join in the rebellion of that year, and to seek redress by measures
of violence.!
Schools, &c.— Previous to the year 1766, 1 can find on record,
no appropriations made for the education of youth. But I am in-
formed that several instructors had, before that period, been em-
* There prevailed, at this time, very g^eiierally through the country the
most violent prejudices against the profession of the law. One of the instruc-
tions given to the ilek-ate, at this time, was, that he was to use his influence
la the csnvention, by petitioning and remonstrating to the General Court
that the whole order of Lawyers be annihilated ; for we conceive them not
only to be building themselves upon the ruins of the distressed, but said order
hasincreased, and 13 daily increasing, far beyond any other set or order of
men among us, in numbers and affluence ; and we apprehend they may be-
come ere long somewhat dangerous to the rights and liberties of the people."
t The following is a list of the names of those who have represented this
town in the General Court, from 1775, to the present time.
i^or ;. '^' r^^'»^^""' ^""° '''"^' '° 1777.— John Ball, 1778, 1782, and
1785.-Dcac. Paul xNewton, 1779, and 1780.-Deac. Seth Rice, 1783-
iVnn' '^'Y;,i'',^''",' ^^■^•^"^^^"-betwetn 1787 and 1798.-Deac. Nahum Fay,
1_800 and 18(M.-James Keyes, Lsq. eighteen years, from 1802, to the present
From ihe above account, it appears that this town has been represented
thirty SIX yt-ars smce the commencement of the Revolutionary war.
ihe following persons have been commissioned .lustices of the peace
Ihe hrst co.nmiss.ou is dated July 3, 1793. Nnhum Fay, Seth Grout, l«aac
JUavis, btephen Wilhams, James Keyes, Phiueas Davis, and Cyrus Gale
Ol this numt>er, three, Seth Grout, Isaac Davis and James Keyes, have since
HISTORY OF NORTITBOROUGH. 45
ployed (o teach, at private houses, in different parts of the town,
and who were paid by the voluntary contributions of the parents.
The tirst school house that was erected in this town, stood on the
meeting house common, whence it was afterwards removed, and
now forms part of the dwelling house of Mr. Joel Bartlett.* Id
1770, the district was divided into four squadrons; but it was not
till 1780, that the town passed a vote to build school houses in the
several squadrons, and granted money for that purpose. The town
granted ^£4000 for building four school houses, which, at the time
it was expended, amounted to only JC52 6*. 8d. to which they added
£110 6«. Qd. amounting to £163 135. 4d.
Since that period two new School districts have been formed ;
90 that there are now six districts in the town, in each of which, a
school is kept from eight to twelve weeks, both winter and summer.
The following is an abstract of the return of the School com-
mittee, made in May last, to the General Court.
Amount paid for public Instruction, $600.
Time of keeping school in the year, 6 months each district.
Males under 7 years, 47 Females under 7 years, 39
From 7 to 14, 98 From 7 to 14, 75
From 14 and upwards, 68 From 14 and upwards, 47
Males, 213 Females, 161
213
Total, 374
There are, in this town, three respectable Libraries, containing
in all about 500 volumes, exclusive of the Juvenile Library, which
contains nearly 150 volumes, suited to children and youth.
The Juvenile Library, commenced in 1821, is supported by an
annual contribution, and, under a few simple regulations, is accessi-
ble to all the children and youth, over the age of 7 years, residing
in the town.
Many young men, educated in our schools, have been employed
as Instructors, both here and in other towns, and have generally
proved worthy of the confidence reposed in them.
Besides several professional gentlemen educated in our schools,
and in the neighboring Academies, twelve young men have receiv-
ed a public education, eight of whom are graduates of Harvard
* Mr. Thomas Goodenow was the first Instructor, supported at the ex-
pense of the town. Mr. James Hart, a foreigner, was employed about this
time, (1770) and is frequently jpoken of as the father of the many excellent
penmen for which tbis town has, io former years, been famed.
46 HISTORY OF nORTHBOROCGH.
University, at Cambridge, one of Brown University, and one each,
of Yale, Dartmouth, and Williams' Colleges.
Their names, professions, &.c. are as follow :
1. Jonathan Livermore, son of the late Dcac. Jonathan Liver-
more, was graduated at Harvard University, in 1760; settled in
the ministry at Wilton, N. H. in 17G3; was dismissed, but remained
in that place, whore he died, July, ! S09, in the 80th year of his age.
2. Ebenezer Rice, son of the late Simon Rice,* was graduated
at Harvard University, in 1760 ; was a I'liysician, and a justice of
the peace, in Marlborough ; afterwards removed to Barre, where
be died.
3. Jacob Rice, son of the late Jacob Rice, was graduated at
Harvard University, in 1765; settled in Hennikcr, N. II. being the
first minister in that place; was dismissed, on account of ill health;
was installed at Brownfield, Oxford County, Me. where he remain-
ed till his death, which took place suddenly, Feb. 1, 1G24, Lord's
Day, having preached to his people in the morning.
4. Elijah Brigham, son of the late Col. Levi Brigham, was
graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1778 ; commenced the study of
Divinity, which he soon relinquished, and engaged in mercantile
business with his brother in law, Breck Parkman, Esq. of Westbo-
rough : in 1795, he was appointed one of the Justices of the Court
of Common Pleas; tor several years was a Senator and Counsellor
of this Commonwealth, a Justice through the State, and a Repre-
sentative of this District in the Congress of the United States, trom
1810 to the time of his death. Judge Brigham died suddenly, at
Washington, Feb. 22, 1816, aged 64.
5. John Taylor, son of the late John Taylor, was graduated at
Harvard University, in 1786; is now a Counsellor at Law, in North-
ampton, and one of the Representatives of that town in the Gen-
eral Court.
6. Peter Whitney, son of Rev. Peter Whitney, was graduated
at Harvard University, in 1791 ; now the minister of Quincy, in
this State, where he was ordained, Feb. 5. 1800.
7. Henry Gassett, son of Henry Gassett, was graduated at Har-
vard University, in 1795 ; is now a merchant, in Boston.
8. Israel Munroe, son of Abraham Munroe, was graduated at
Harvard University, in 1800; was for some years a Counsellor at
Law, in Boston; he now resides in the city of New York.
* Simon Rice, the father of Dr. Ebenezer Rice, was a brother of the late
Deac. Matthias Kice, of this town. He lived just within the limits of North-
borough, near the dwelling- house of Mr. Kphraini Barnard.
HlSTOny OF NOKTHBOROUGII. 47
9. Warren Fay, son of Nahum Fay, Esq. was graduated at Har-
vard University, in 1807 ; ordained at Brimfield, Nov. 3, ICUG ; dis-
missed, June 20, IBU ; installed at Harvard, Jan. 26, 1811; dis-
missed, at his own request, Jan. 5, 1820; installed as mini.-ler of
the First Congregational Church and Society in Charlestown, Feb.
23, 1820.
10. Luther Rice, son of Capt. Amos Rice, was graduated at
Williams College, in 1810; ordained at Salem, Feb. 6, 1812, as a
Missionary; sailed ^for Calcutta in company with Messrs. Hall &
Judson, Feb. 18, 1812. Soon after his arrival he changed his views
on the subject of baptism ; was baptised by immersion ; and, in the
autumn of 1813, returned to this country. He now resides in Wash-
ington, D. C. and is Treasurer of Columbia College.
11. John Davis, son of the late Isaac Davis, Esq. was graduated
at Yale College, in 1812; is now a Counsellor at Law, in Worcester,
and represents this District in the Congress of tlie U. S.
12. Isaac Davis, son of Fhineas Davis, Esq. was graduated at
Brown University, in 1822 ; is now an Attorney at Law, in Wor-
cester.
There are, at present, two physicians in this place, Docts. Ste-
phen Ball, Sen'r. and Jun'r. The only other physician who made
Northborough his permanent residence, was the late Doct. Stephen
Ball, father of Stephen Ball, SenV. There has never been a law-
yer residing in the place, with the exccfition of John Winslow,
Esq. who remained here only a few yearfr^ And, it is a singular
fact, that with this exception, and that of the three successive min-
isters, all of whom were educated at Harvard University, none of
the permanent inhabitants of the town, at this or at any lormer pe-
riod, received a public and liberal education.
Ecclesiastical, S:c. — Measures were taken immediately after
Northborough became a separate precinct, to support the public
worship of God, by building a church, and procuring a minister.
December 31, 1744, the parish voted to build a meeting house,
and to raise £50, lawful money, for that purpose. This led, as fre-
quently happens, to a controversy respecting the location of the
edifice, which, after several months continuance, was finally sub-
mitted to the arbitration of three respectable men from the neigh-
boring towns, Capt. Daniel Heywood, of Worcester, Capt. John
Haynes, of Sudbury, and Capt. Thomas Hapgood, of Shrewsbury,
who fixed on the spot, near the site of the present church. The
land on which the hou-e was erected, was given to the town for
41* HISTOUY OF NORTirEOROUUH,
the use of its inliabitantsf, by Capt. James Eager, by a deed bear-
ing date April 2G, 1745, "so long as the said inhabitants of the
north precinct shall improve said land for the standing of a meeting
house for the public worship of God."
The committee reported, April 24, 1745; and, on April 30, only
6 days after, the house was raised; a vote having previously pas-
sed, that "^ every man should provide for the raising as he was
spirited."*
New difficulties now arose respecting the settlement of a minis-
ter. Several candidates had been employed ; and, as usually hap-
pens in such cases, the minds of the people were divided between
them. Under these circumstances, the precinct appointed a fast
for the 12th Sept. 1745, and sent for five of the neighbormg minis-
ters " to give them their advice who they should apply to for can-
didates, in order to a choice."
The following gentlemen attended on the occasion ; viz. Rev.
Mr. Prentice, Rev. Mr. Parkman, Rev. Mr. Gushing, and Rev. Mr.
Morse, who recommended that the parish should hear a few sab-
baths each, two candidates from Cambridge, Rev. Mr, Rand, and
Mr. Jedediah Adams, in order to a choice. Mr. John Martyn was
one of the candidates, who had previously been employed by the
parish; and although they complied with the ndvice of the neigh-
boring ministers, so far as to hear the other candidates two sab-
baths each, yet on the jlOth of December, 1745, " Mr. John ]\lar-
tyn was chosen by a clevtr vote" ; and a salary was offered him of
£50 in bills of the last emission, (which was at 7s. 6d. per ounce,)
or £200 in bills of the old form and tenor, after the rate of silver
at '60s. per ounce, or in other bills of public credit, equivalent to
the said sum, and to be paid at two payments annually." Besides
this, a settlement of ^300, old tenor, was voted by the parish.
Mr. Martyn accepted the invitation, and was ordained, May 21,
174G, O. S. a church having been gathered on the same day, con-
sisting often brethren, besides the pastor elect, four of whom, it is
worthy of notice, were foreigners.!
* The dimensions of the first meeting house were 46 feet by 36. The
■whole cost of finishing the outside was £443 Ms. 2d. The building commit-
tee consisted of Capt. James Eager, Wm. Holloway, and Jesse Brigham.
The house was framed by Daniel Heraminway. The price of labor at Ihi^
time, was, in the old tenor currency, for a man per day scoring timber, 6s. for
hewing, 6j. 6d. for carpenter's work, 8*. White pine timber, 3 pence per
foot ; for oak, 2^ pence, running measure, " Allowed Jotham Barllett £2
iOs. for two barrels of cider at the raising of the meeting house."
t The following are the names of the persons who subscribed to the church
HISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGH. 49
The ordaining council consisted of the following pastors, ivith
their delegates :
Rev. Mr. Parkman, of Westborough, who preached on the oc-
casion, Irom Heb. xiii. 17; Rev. Mr. Prentice, of Lancaster, who
gave the charge; Rev. M*^. Gushing, of Shrewsbury, who expressed
the fellowship of the Churches; Rev. Mr. Loring, of Sudbury; Rev.
Mr. Hall, of Sutton; Rev. Mr, Gardner, of Stow; and Rev. Mr. Bar-
rett, of Hopkinton,
Although the ceremonies of the ordination took place in the
meeting house, yet it appears from the town records thai it was in
a very unfinished state, having neither pulpit, galleries, glass win-
doivs, nor even permanent floors. It was not till June, in the fol-
lowing year, that a vote could be obtained " to glaze the meeting
house and lay the floors ;" and not till the next autumn, that the
pulpit and gallery stairs were built. This was indeed the day of
small things ; and when we compare the accommodations of the
spacious and elegant temple since erected near the spot, with the
loose floors, and rough seats, and open windows of the house in
which our fathers wor3hij)ped, we shall do well to inquire wheth-
er we surpass them as much in the punctuality of our attendance,
and the spirituality of our worship, as in the beauty and accommo-
dations of the place of our solemnities.
Northborough became an incorporated district, Jan. 24, 1766,
not long after which, viz. April 30, 1767, the Rev. John Martyn,
after a short illness, departed this life, in the 61st year of his age,
and the 21st of his ministry. His wife died, Sept. 8, 1775, aged 70.
Mr. Martyn was a son of Capt. Edward Martyn, of Boston,
where he spent his early life, under the care of an excellent moth-
er, who had been left a widow in easy circumstances, some time
previous to young Mr. Martyn's entering college. l\lr. Martyn
was graduated at Harvard University, in 1721. For several years
after he left college, he devoted his attention to secular pursuits,
and was for some time an inhabitant of Harvard, in this county.*
covenant at this time. — John Martyn, the pastor elect ; Ephraitn Allen ; Josh-
ua DowsJngf, (sometimes written Townsend) from Englami ; John McAUester,
from Ireland ; Jonathan Livermore, (afterwards Deac. Livermore ;) Gershom
Fay ; Matthias Rice, (afterwards Ueac. llice ;) Samuel Allen ; Jacob Shep-
herd, a foreigner; John Carruth, also a foreigner; and Silas Fay.
* Rev. Mr. Martyn was married to Miss Mary Marret, of Cambridge, by
whom he had the following children : John, who lived in this town ; Mary,
married to a Minot, of Concord ; Michael, who was married to Zilpah, daugh-
ter of James Kager, and lived in this town till the commencement of the reT-
60 HISTORY OF iNnilTIIBOnoUljiir.
At lengtli, at the age of 40, he directed his iiltention to Theo-
logical pursuits, and became an able, faithful, and useful minister.
lie possessed, in a large measure, the confidence and affections of
his flock, was honored in his lil'e, and deeply lamented at his death.
Rev. Peter Whitney was the only person employed as a candi-
date in this place between the death of Mr. Martyn and his own
ordination.
IMr. Martyn died the last day of April; and, after an interval of
only 6 months and 4 days, that is, on the 4th of the following No-
vember, his successor was inducted into the office of a christian
minister.*
The services at his ordination were perlbrmcd by the follow-
ing persons. Rev, I\Ir. Morse, of the second church in Shrewsbu-
ry, (now Boylston) made the Introtluclory Prayer; Rev. Mr. Whit-
ney, of Petersham, tiie father of tl)e candidate, preached from Mat-
thew, xxviii. 19,20.; Rev. Mr. Parkman, of Westborougli, made
the consecrating prayer, and gave the charge ; Rev. Mr. Smith, of
Marlborough, expressed the fellowship of the churches; and Rev.
Mr, Bridge, of Chelmsford, made the concluding prayer. The
other ministers on the ordaining council, were. Rev. Mr. Stone, of
Southborough ; Rev. Mr. Goss, of Bolton ; Rev, Mr, Morrell, of
Wilmington; Rev, Mr. Davis, of Ilolden ; Rev. Mr. Woodward, of
Weston; Rev. Mr. Clark, of Lexington ; Rev. Mr. Sumner, of
Shrewsbury; and Rev. IMr. Cumniings, of Killerica,
The ?alary of Rev, Mr, Whitney was JC6u \3s. 4f/, with a set-
tlement of £160, lawful money.
Rev, Peter Whitney was the son of Rev, Aaron Whitney, the
first minister of Petersham, was born Sept. 17, 1744, He was grad-
uated at Harvard University, 17G2, where he pursued his Theologi-
cal studies preparatory to entering on the work of the ministry.
Distinguished for the urbanily of his manners, easy and familiar
in his intercourse with his people, hospitable to strangers, and al-
ways ready to give a hearty welcome to his numerous friends;
punctual to his engagements, observing an exact method in the dis-
tribution of his time, having a time for every thing and doing every
thing in its time, without hurry or confusion; conscientious in the
olutlonary war ; Richard, who fcttlcil in Windsor, Conn, ; and Nathaniel,
who removed to one of the Southern States. Widow Abigail Fay, is the
di:ughter of John, abovenauied, and is now living; in tliis place,
* Mr. Whitney began to preach in Northborough, June 7, 1767, and gave
his answer to settle the 12tU of the followinir October*
HISTORY OF NOaTHBORODGII. 51
discharge of his duties as a cliristian minister, catholic in his prin-
cij)les and in \m conduct, always taiviug- an interest in whatever
concerned the prosperity of the town and the interests of religion,
he wa«, for many yfears, the happy minister of a kind and an atfec-
tionato people. At length, having continued in the work of the
ministry almost half a century, he suddenly departed this life, Feh-
ruary 29, 1816, in the 72d year of his age, and the 49th of his use-
ful ministry.*
Mr. Whitney was married to Miss Julia Lambert, of Reading, in
iliis state, by whom he had ten children wiio lived to man's estate,
eight of whom slill survive.
Mrs. Whitney survived her husband nearly five years, and died
at Quincy, while on a visit to her children, Jan. 10, 1821, aged 79
years. All who knew Madam Whitney will bear testimony to her
worth ; and admit that she possessed, in no common measure, dig-
nity of manners, sprightliness of mind, and goodness of heart. She
was indeed a most pleasant companion and a most valuable friend.
The writer of these sketches was the only candidate employed
by their society after the death of his immediate predecessor; and
after a probation of about four months, was ordained their minister,
Oct. 30, 18l6.t His salary is ^600 per annum.
*' Rev. Mr. Martyn U-ft none of his wiitings in print. His successor made
himself extensively known by his History of Worcester County ; a work high-
ly valuable for thu facts it records, many of which would piobalily have beeu
lost, hail they not, witli »reat pains and fidelity, been collected and embodied
in this work. It is a work, the value of which will not be diminished by the
more minute histories now publishinjj in the Worcester Magazine and Histori-
cal Journal.
The other printed writings of Mr, Whitney, so far as they have come to
my knowleclj^e, are — Two Discourses, delivered July 4, 177'1 ; a Sermon, de-
livered at a Lecture, July 4, 1776, on publishinjj the Declaration of Indepen-
dence ; a half Century bermon, preached June 1, !79i) ; a ^'ermon at the or-
dination of his son, Rev. Peter W hitney, of Qnincy, February 5, IfiOO ; a Ser-
mon preacln d at Shrewsbury, February 16, IJllU, at the funeral of Mrs. Lucy
Sumner, wife of the Rev. Joseph Sutnner, I). D. ; and a notice of a remarka-
ble apple tree, in the first volume of the Memoirs of the American Academy
of Arts and Sciences.
The publication of the History of Worcester County recommended the
author to the notice ol the iMassachusetta Historical Society, who elected him
a member of that association.
t The ordination services were performed by the following persons :
Rev. Mr. Whitney, of Quincy, made the Introducl^ry Prayer; Rev. Prof,
Ware, of Harvard University, preached frou) Jer. xv. 19 ; Rev. Pres. Kirk-
land, of II. U. made the Consecratine I'rayer ; Kev. Dr. Saunders, of Med-
field, ^ave the charg^e ; Rev. John E. Abbott, of Salem, gave the Right hand
of Fellowship ; Rev. Dr. Pufl'er, of Berlin, made the Concluding Prayer. He-
sides the above, the following Ministers were on the Council : Rev. Dr. Sum-
ner, of Shrewsbury ; Rev. Dr. Bancroft, of Worcester ; Kev. Dr. Thayer, of
7
52
niS'lORY OF NORTHBOROUGH.
It appears, therefore, that from the ordination of Rev. Mr. Mar.
tyn, in 1746, to the present time, a period of 80 years, this chris-
tian society has been destitute of a settled minister only about 14
months; a fact highly creditable to the members of this society, as
an evidence of their regard for the institutions of religion, and of
the union and harmony which have long subsisted among them.
And it may justly be considered, that the town is indebted to the
spirit of union which has hitherto so generally prevailed among us,
for the respectable rank which it now maintains. It would be easy,
however painful, to predict the consequences of the prevalence of
an opposite spirit. Large and opulent societies cnn bear to be re-
duced by division. But in societies small as this, and whose re-
sources are no greater than ours, union should be the watchword of
all who wish well to the cause of human improvement.
It is worthy of remark, that there has never been but one reli-
gious society in this town, and that only a very few families have,
at any time, withdrawn themselves from the Congregational socie-
ty. Four or five families of the Baptist denomination usually at-
tend public worship in the adjoining towns. The first person of
this denomination in this town, was Thomas Billings, who joined
the Baptist Society, in Leicester, in 176G.
The increase of wealth and population, and a regard for the in-
stitutions of religion, led the inhabitants of this town, in the spring
and summer of 1808, to erect a new and more spacious house for
public worship.
The new '^hurch is 66 ft. square, with a projection of 34 ft. by
15, surmounted by a tower, and cost, including the bell, ^11,408 04.
The cost of the bell was $bW 00; its weight about 1200 lbs.
The proportions of this building are much admired by persons
of good taste ; and its location is such, that it appears to great ad-
vantage from the main road. May it long stand ; and be to this So-
ciety a bond of union, and the place whither they shall delight to
bring their stated offerings of prayer and praise.*
Lancaster ; Rev. Mr. Packard, of Marlborough ; Rev. Mr. Rockwood, of
Westborough ; Rev. Mr. Cotton, of Boylston ; Rev. Mr. Frothins^ham, of
Boston ; Rev. Mr. Ripley, of Waltham ; and Rev. Mr. Damon, of Lunenburg.
Rev. J. Allen was born in Mcdfield, August 15, 1790, and was graduated at
Harvard University, in 1811.
* The committee for building the new meeting house consisted of the fol-
lowing persons ; James Keyes, Esq. Stephen Williams, Esq. Isaac Davis, Esq.
Hollon Maynard, Col. William Eager, Seth Grout, Esq. Asaph Rice, and
Phineas Davis, Esq. The business was committed lo a sub-committee, com-
posed of three; S. Williams, Esq. Asaph Rice, and Phineas Davis, Esq. The
house was built by Col. Eames, of Buckland, andCapt, Brooks, of Princetoo
HISTORY OF NORTIlEOnOUGfl.
53
hi the summer of 1822, a neat and handsome Town House was
built, at the cost of about $1000, which is Ubcd for town meetings,
singing schools, and various other purposes.
This town has been peculiarly unfortunate in the destruction of
buildings by tire. No fewer than ten dwelling houses, in this small
town, seven of them large, two story buildings, have been burnt to
the ground. Besides these, two school houses, one grist mill, one
saw mill, and one shoe-makers's shop, have fallen a piey to the
same devouring element.
In respect to expenses incurred for the support of paupers, the
town has for the most part been liighly favored. Since the com-
mencement of the present year, only two persons have been a town
charge, the whole expense of maintaining whom, for a year, is less
than one hundred dollars.
Some additional particulars relating to the ecclesiastical and se-
cular affairs of this town, it may be proper to include in these his-
torical sketches. Owing to the destruction of the church records,
in the year 1780, when the dwelling house of Kev. Mr. Whitney,
with most of its contents, was destroyed by tire, we have no means
of ascertaining the number of baptisms and of persons, who joined
the church, as well as many other particulars, which it might be in-
teresting to know, of what took place previous to that date. We
learn, however, from Rev. Mr. Parkman's account of Westborough,
that, in 1767, the year of the Rev. Mr. Martyn's death, that the
number of communicants was forty four, 21 males, and 23 females.
The whole number of poisons udnuttod into tho churoh, duviui; tUo
ministry of Mr. Whiluoy, as noavlx a< c.u\ ho !i*oovta\uov\, «a* v\^
Since the death of Mr. Whituoy, 51 have been added to the church,
exclusive of such as have been received by recommendation from
other churches. Besides these, 84 persons, during the ministry of
Mr. Whitney, owned the baptismal covenant.
The number of persons baptised, from 1780 to the time of BIr.
Whitney's decease, was 661 ; from that i)eriod to the present, 132.
From the gathering of this church, in 1746, to the present time,
seven persons only have sustained the otfice of deacons, two of
^vhom yet survive.
The two first deacons of this church were Jonathan Livermore
and Matthias Rice. Deac. Livermore resigned, October 2d, 1782 j
died April 21, 1801, aged 100 years and 7 months. Deac. Rice
died February 13, 1764, aged 58 years. Deac. Rice was succeed-
ed by Paul Newlon, who resigned May 8, 1795, and died May 18,
b\ HISTORY OP NOUTHBOROUGH.
1797, aged 79. Deac. Livermore was succeeded by Selh Rice,
who resigned April 30, 1807, and died Jan. 2, 1815, aged 77.
Deac. Newton was succeeded by Isaac Davis, who resigned Nov.
18, 1825, and died April 27, 1826, aged 77. Deac. Rice was suc-
ceeded by Nahum Fay, and Deac. Davis by Jonas Bartlett. Deac.
Fay came into ottice June 14, 1807, and Deac. Bartlett, February
26, 1826.
The amount of the ages of the five deacons who have deceas-
ed, is 392 years, the average of which exceeds 78 years.
In giving the history of this town, it will be proper that we sub-
join a brief notice of those persons who have distinguished them-
selves as its benefactors. It has already been mentioned that the
land on which the meeting house stands, with the adjoining com-
mon, was the donation of Capt. James Eager, of whom an account
was given in a former part oi these sketches.
Mrs. Martyn, the mother of the Rev. John I\lartyn, at first,
wholly supplied furniture for the communion table. Rabbi Judah
Monis, formerly a Hebrew Instructer, in Harvard University, gave
to this church a silver cup, also a large silvei: tankard, afterwards
converted into two cups. Another silver cup was procured, with
the joint legacies of Capt. J. Eager and Lieut. William Holloway.
A silver tankard was given by Anna, relict of Deac. Matthias Rice.
Another silver cup was given by Pelatiah Rice, and his son in law,
Thaddeus Fay. Another by Capt. Gideon Tenny ; and recently,
one by the late Deac. Isaac Davis. An elegant Folio Bible, in 2
vols, for the use of the pulpit, was the generous donation of Jo-
seph Foster, Esq. of Cambridge.*
* Rabbi Judah Monis was a native of Italy, born in 1683 or 1684. Of
his parentage, and of the circumstinces which led him to eniij^rate to Ameri-
ca, we have no account, lie was employed as an instructer in the Htbi'ew
language, in Harvard University, about the year 17~0, before his conversion
to Christianity. At length, he was led to receive Jesus Christ as the true
jVlessiah : and, March 27, 1722, was publicly baptised at Cambridge ; the
llev. Ur. Benjamin Colman, of Boston, preaching a discourse in the College
Hall on the occasion, from John, v. 4G. In the preface to this discourse, the
author says, that " it was prepared iu obedience to the desire of the very Rev.
Mr. Leverett, the present learned Head and President of the House where it
was delivered, in case of the absence of the aged and venerable L>r. Increase
Mather,'' who, he adds, " if his years had permitted hiai, would have presid-
ed and served on so great a solemnity.''' " As to Mr. Monis himstlf," Dr.
Colman writes, " it must be confessed that he seems a very valuable prose-
lyte. He is truly read and learned in the Jewish Cabbala, and Rabbins, a
Master and Critic in the Hebrew : He reads, speaks, writes, and interprets it
•with great readiness and accuracy, and is truly didaklickos^ apt to teach.
His diligence and industry, together with his ability, is manifest unto many
who have seen his Grammar and Nomenclator, Hebrew and f'.nglish ; as also
his Translation of the Creed and Lord's I'rayer ; the thirty nine articles of the
IIISTORV OF NORTIIUOROUt.H. 55
Appf.kdix I. Coiitainiuji;' a li:st of porsons who were heads of
families in this place before or soon after it became a separate Pre-
Church of England, and the Assembly's fhorter Catechism into Hebrew ; and
he is now transhttinjj tlie larger Catechism." On the same occasion, Mr.
Monis also delivt red a discourse from Ps. cxvi. lU, entitled ''The 'J'ruth,"
which was printed, with a Preface written by Dr. Increafe ftlather. 'this
was followed soon afterwards by two other discourses from the same text, the
firsl entitled " 'I'he Whole Truth,'" (he latter, " Aothing but the Truth."
These three discourses, with that of Dr. Colman, were printed in Boston, for
Daniel lltnchman, and "sold at his shop, over against the old Brick Church,
in Cornhill, 1722."
.Mr. .Monis continued in his office as an Instructor in Hebrew forty years,
till the infirmities of age rendt-red him incapalile of performing its duties.
After the death of his wife, in 1761, he left Can)bridge and removed to North-
Lorough to reside in the family of Rev. .Mr. Martyn, who had married a si;ter
of his wife. Here he remained till the tmie of his death, which happened,
April 25, 1764, at the age of 81 years. As he had no children, he bequeath-
ed the principal part of his estate, which was considerable, to the family in
which he resided at his death. The sum of £46 I3i.4(/. was distributed
among seven of the neighboring ministers ; and about iJl26 was left as a fund,
under the direction of a Hoard of Trustees, the interest of which was to be
devoted to the relief of indigent widows of deceased clergymen. The Board
of Trustees consists of the ministers of the following churches : The church
in NorlhboroU2:h ; the first church in Salem ; first in Cambridge ; the new
north in Boston ; and the first church in Ilingham. The fund now amounts
to $400, the interest of which is distributed annually among four widows of
deceased clergymen.
The following is the inscription on Mr. JMonis'' Grave Stone.
"nr.UK LIE ECRIKD THE RE.MAINS OP
RABBI JUDAH MONIS,
Late Hebrew Instructer,
At Harvard College, in Cambridge ;
In which ofhce lie continiie-l 40 years.
He was by birth and religion a Jew,
But embraced the Christian faith,
And was publicly baptised
At Cambridge, A. D. 1722,
And departed this life
'\pril 2ath, 17G4,
Aged eighty one years, two months,
and tuenly one days.
A native branch of Jacob see,
Which once from ort" its olive broke ;
Regralted from the living tree, Rom. xi. 17.24.
Of the reviving sap partook.
From teeming Zion's fertile womb, Isai. Ixvi. 8.
As dewy drops in early morn, P?. ex. 3.
Or rising bodies from the tomb, John, v. 28. 29.
At once be Israel's nation born. Isai. Ixvi. 8."
.^- -' Lieut. Wm. HoUoway, of whose family an account has been given, wag
tor many years, one of the leading characters in this town. He died Jan. 6,
1760, aged 71.
i)cac. Matthias Rice was a grandson of Edward Rice, one of the origin-
56 HisTony of NonTiiBonoroR.
cinct, in 1744. The second column contains the names of the per-
sons who now Hve on or near the same house lots.
Those to whose names this mark (t) is prefixed, have descend-
ants of the same name now living in Northborough.
John Brigham. Mr. Holbrooks Saw Mill.
Samuel Goodenow, ) ^-i, r. ,
Samuel Goodenow, Jun. \ ^''' ^artlett.
David and Jonathan, sons of) Deac. Jonas Bartlett,
Samuel Goodenow, Jan. ) Gill Bartlett.
Nathaniel Oakes, Jacob Peirce.
Simeon Howard, Sen. Near the Hearse Flouse.
tGershom Fay, aen. Near Asa Fay's House.
Thomas VN'ard, Asaph Rice.
Oliver ? Ward, (1) Jonathan Bartlett.
Deac. Isaac Tomblin, Widow of the late Deac. Davii.
Hezekiah 'I'omblin, On Tomblin Hill.
Ephraim Beeman, Samuel Da-lrymple.
Joseph Wheeler, On Ball's Hill.
Simon Rice, Near Ephraim Barnard's,
t Daniel Bartlett, (2) Deac. Jonas Bartlett.
None of the above, it is believed were heads of families in this town so
late as 1744.
The following are the names of the fifteen persons who paid
(he highest taxes in 1749, taken from the Town Record, Vol. I. p. 27.
Lieut. Wm. Holloway, Stephen Williams, Esq.
James Eag:er, Jun. John Fisk.
Capt. James Eao:er, Do.
Deac. Matthias Rice, Windsor Stratton.
Peletiah Rice, Ephraim Barnard.
Samuel Gamwell, Capt. I'renticc Keyes.
t Jacob Rice, (3) Asaph Rice,
tJotham Bartlett, Gill Bartlett.
Timothy I'^iy, Capt. Henry Hastings.
Josiali Bowker, Nathan Green.
+ Jesse Brigham, (4) Henry Brigham.
tBezaleel Eager, (5) Col. Wm. Eager;
al proprietors of Marlborough. He lived on the farm now owned by Jonak
Brigham. He ('.ied without children, Feb. 3, 1764, aged 58.
Peletiah Rice was a son o! Peter Rice, of Marlborough, and lived on the
farm now in the possession of Ephraim Barnard. He left no sons ; his two
daughters, Thankful and Sarah, were married respectively, to Thaddeus and
Adam Fay, sons of Gershom Fay. He died April 7, 1775, aged 81.
Deac. Isaac Davis was born in Rutland, in this county. His father, Si-
mon Davis, was a son of Simon Davis, who removed from Concord to Rutland.
Rev. Joseph Davis, the first minister of Holden, was another son of Simon Da-
vis, Sen. Deac. Davis removed to Northborough during the Revolutionary,
war, and has been, for a long succtssion of years, one of our most distinguish-
ed citizens. His first wife, the mother of his children, was a daughter of the
late Dr. Samuel Brigham, of Marlborough, who was married to a daughter of
Dr. Benjamin Gott, whose wife was Sarah, a daughter of Rev. Robert Breck,
the second minister of Marlborough. Deac. Davis died April 27, 1826, k»ed
77. During his last sickness, he directed his family to procure at his expense
new linen for the Communion Table, a direction with which they cheerfully
'omplied.
HISTORY OF NORTIIBOROUGII.
Silas Fay,
Thomas Billiugs,
John Oakes,
The following twelve names we
tJames Ball,
Cornet Simeon Howard,
t Nathan Ball,
t Josiah Rice,
t Gershom Fay,
+ Samuel Allen,
John McAUester, "
Deac. Jonas Livermone,
Thomas Goodenow,
Seth Hudson,
George Oakes,
t Seth Rice, Sen:
To the above list the following
John Martyn, Jun.
Zephaniah Brings,
tDeac. Paul Newton,
t Col. Levi Brigham, (6)
t Samuel Wood, Sen. (7)
tThomas Warren, and his ) ^p>,
son tEliphalet Warren, ) ^ '
Jonathan Hayward, and his
son Gideon Hayward,
tJonathan Bruce,
Joshua Townsend,
t John Carruth,
I William Babcock,
Josiah Goddard,
Solomon GoJdard,
Silas Rice,
Samuel Gamwell, Jun.
William Carruth,
George Smith,
Joshua Child,
Warren,
Capt. Timothy Brigham, }
now living, j^
Capt. Henry Hastings.
Col. John Crawford.
Joel Gassett.
re added, in 1752.
Edward B. Ball.
Nahum Fay, Esq.
Nathan Ball.
William Maynard.
Benjamin Rice.
Samuel Allen.
Hollon Maynard.
David IJinsmore.
Stephen Howe.
Near Ephraim Barnard's.
Luther Hawse.
Calviu Hastings.
names may be subjoined.
Benjamin Munroe.
Capt. Joseph Davis.
Martjn Newton.
Win slow Brigham.
Sauiugl Sever.
Abel Warren.
Lowell Holbrook.
Samuel Dalrymple.
John F. Fay.
Joseph Carruth.
David Mahan.
Silas Bailey.
Jonas Babcock.
Benjamin Flagg.
Reuben Babcock.
Daniel Smith.
Do.
On the South Road.
Do.
Oliver Eager.
NOTES.
Brief notices of several persons whose names are found in the foregoing list.
1. Oliver ? Ward. I understand that a farmer of the name of Ward,
was the first settler on the farm of Jonathan Bartlett, and I conclude that his
name was Oliver from tbe circumstances that, in 1710, forty three acres of
land were laid out to Thomas and Oliver Ward " on Woody Hill, near the
upper end of Cold Harbor, north side of the brook, next John Brigham's
meadow."
2. Daniel Bartlett, was a son of Henry Bartlett, who emigrated from
Wales and settled in Marlborough, in the latter part of the seventeenth or
beginning of the eighteenth Century. He was the common ancestor of all
of that name in this town. His sons were Jotham, settled in this town,
grandfather of Gill Bajtlett ; Daniel, settled in Rutland ; Jonathan, father of
58
JIISTORV OF NORTHLOROUGH.
Jotham and Jonathan, in this town ; John, in Trincetou ; Isaac, in Holden ;
and Jonas, father of Ueac. Jonas U. in this town. A brother of Danic-l set-
tied in Western or Brookfield, probably the Benjamin Bartlett, whose daugh-
ter Mary, born 1701, was the first child born in Brookfield, whose birth was
recorded. (1 Hist. Col. 1, 267.)
3. Jacob Rice, son of Jacob Rice of Marlborough, first lived a little
south of the dwelling house of Doct. Stephen Ball, afterwards removed to the
house now owned by his grandson, Asaph Rice. He was the father of John
Rice, of Shrewsbury ; Jacob, minister of Brownfield, Maine ; and Amos, now
\'n ing in this town. The brothers of Jacob were Amos and Obediah, of Brook-
field,andGershom, of Marlborough. Jacob Rice died, July 29, 17B8, aged 81.
4. Capt. Jesse Brigliam, son of Jonathan Bri^bam of Marlborough, was
the father of Artemas, and Capt. Tim. Briirham, the latter of whom is now
living in this town. Jesse Brigham died, U;c. 8, 1796, aged 87,
5. Capt. Bezaleel Kager, came from Marlbori-vu;,'h to the place where his
grandson, Col. \Vm. Ep.ger now lives. Two brotlurj, Abraham and Capt.
Benjamin Kager, came about the same time to Shrewsbury, and were smong
the first settlers of that town. Their fath( r or grandfather was from Concord;
Bezaleel Eager, died Oct. 31, 1787, aged 74.
6. Col. Levi Brigham, son of David Brigham of Westboron^h, was the
father of the late Judge Brigham, and of W inflow Brigham now living in this
town. Col. Brigham was chosen July 10, 1775, to represent this town in the
Assembly to be convened at the meeting house in Watertown, the 19th of that
month. He died Feb. 1, 1787, aged 71.
7. Samuel Wood came from Sudbury, and set up the first fulling mill in this
town. He was the father of the late Abraham and Capt. Samuel Wood, who
lived together on the same farm now in the possession of Samuel Sever.
8. Thomas Warren, from Watertown, was the father of Eliphalet, who
left many descendents in this town and in other places.
Appkndix II. Referrinsr to png;e 131. The Grants for house
lots were made 26th November. 1660, and were in the following
proportions.
Edmund Rice
William Ward
John Ruddock
Thomas Goodenow
Joseph Rice
Samuel Rice
Christopher Bannister
I'homas King
William Kerley
Solomon Johnson
Richard Newton
John Howe, Sen.
John Howe Jun.
Henry KerUy
Richard Barnes
— —Thomas Rice
Andrew Belcher
Obadiah Ward
• Edward Rice
fere*.
^cres. 1
60
Richard Ward
18
50
•John Woods
30 j
50
John Maynard
23 1
32
Peter King
22
32
Benjamin Rice
24
21
A INlinister
30
16
Peter Bent
30
39
-John Bellows
20
30
Abraham How
25
30
Thomas Goodenow
Jun. 20
30
John R utter
30
30
-'John Barrett
18
16
John Rediat
22
19i
A Smith
30
16
Jobipph Holmes
18
35
Samuel How
16
20
Henry Axlell
15
21
John Newtou
16
35
38 house lots,
992i acres.
iiiSTORv or Noaiiir.oiujiKiii. 59
NOTES.
Brief notices of several persons whose nnmes are found in the foregoing list.
Edmund Rice was probably tlie father of Kdminul Rice, one of the first
settlers of Westboroiijii, wh(.«e ciiildren Silas and Timothy were taken by the
Indians and carried into captivity. If so, he was the great grandfather of the
late Deac. Seth Rice of this town. lie was one of the selectmen of Marlbo-
rough, in 1601.
\Vm. Ward was one of the first deacons of the Church at Marlborough,
and had a house lot assigned him on the south side of the road opposite the
Rev. Mr. Bnmsmead's. [le was one of the selectmen in IGGl. He was the
grandfather of the late Col. William Ward, of Southborbugh. He was proba-
bly also an ancestor of the late Maj. (icn. Arlemas Ward, of Shrewsbury.
There were, however, three persons of the name ol Ward, viz. William, Obe-
diah, and Richard, to whom house lots in Marlbcrou^irh were granted at this
time, (IG62.) From the following inscription on a grave stone in the old bu-
rying ground in Marlborough, it would appear that the person to whom rt
belongs, was born before either of tiie New England colonies was planted.
'' Here lyes the body of Elizabeth \Vard, the servant of the Lord, deceased iu
87 year of her age, December the 9 in the year of our Lord 1700.
John Ruddock, was one of the selectmen of Marlborough, also a recorder
or clerk in IGGl, and a deacon of the church in ]G'uO.
Of Thomas Goodenow, Richard Xcwton and .lolm How, some account
lias already been giv(.i. 'ihoma> (Joodeiiow and .lohn How, were ^J-eluun
in IGGl, a? also w. re ■i'hoin,.. King and Solomon .lohnson, the latter ol whom
was afterwards a deacon of llu' church.
The nan»e of Andrew R. Ichrr. occurs in Pi, llol.nc* Ih^uny of C.un-
bridge, O. Hist, Col. \ ol. \ II. -, ;M.) who .pioLs tnun the To^^., Records
the following: <^ The townsmen granted liberty to Andrew Relcher, lo j.-ll
beare and breast, for entertainment of strangers, and the good of the town "
This was inlGS-.'. Whether this is the same person whose name is found
among the proprietors of .Marlborough eight years afterwards, I am unable to
.say. A Capt. An.lrew Relcher is said to have given to the first parish in
Cambridge, th.i bell now in use, in the year 1700. I am informed too that
the name of Andrew Relcher, Es,i. frequently occurs in the records of the
uen. Court; that he was for some years an assistant, a member of the Kin-'s
Council,and often a member of the Legisl.ature; and that, in lGa9, he was
a messenger to treat with the Indians at Albany, &lo. It is not improbable
that he lived for a time at Marlborocgh, and that he afterwards returned to
Cambridge, and sustained the several offices abovementioned.
Edward Rice was a deacon of the church in KV.'J ■ and wa?, as luis been
tnentioned, the grandfather of the late Dear. Matthias Rice, of Simon Rice
and of Jacob Rice, of this town. It is not improbable, taking into view the ,
connexion between Sudbury and Concord, that the Richard Rice who is j
mentioned as one of the first settlers of Coiwrord, in \63P,^ ({'. Hi.t. Col Vol ,
1, 2-10.) was the cominon ancestor of all of that name in this part of thp coun- !
try, and the person, who, as tradition says, left eight sons,^';;rhS allTivcdto a
very great ag-. The Rice family has been remarkable for lon-evity,
8 —s
60 HISTORY OK HOnTIIBOROUGII.
Two of this name, Cyprian and Elisha Rice, who went from Murlborouj,'h, di-
ed at Brookfield in 17C8, the one in the 98th, and the other in the 99th year of
his age. Hist. Col, 1. 273.
Of the other persons mentioned in the foregoing list, I have no account to
give. Maj. Peter Bulkley was mentioned, page 138, as one of the persons
who assisted in procuring the Indian deed of Marlborough. This was un-
doubtedly a son of Rev. Peter Bulkley, who was the first minister and one of
the first settlers of Conco-d, then called Muskelaquid. Rev. Mr. Bulkley,
had a number of children who were much distinguished in their day. One of
his sons, Gershom, was married to a daughter of President Chuuncey, and was
the father of John Bulkley, minister of Colchester, Conn.
Maj. Peter Bulkley, was iu 167C-9, an agent for the Corporation of the
Massachusetts Bay,respecting the Narrhagansett country, (1 Hist. Col. V. 221)
and in the first year of James II. was appointed by the King's commission, one
of the Council, of which Joseph Dudley, Esq. was President. 1. Hist. V.
245.
It appears from the State Records, that a grant of 1000 acres of land in
the Nipmug or Kittituck country, was made to Maj. Bulkley, by the General
Court, for some service he had performed for the public.
Appendix 111.
Ministers of IMarlborougii. — Rev. William Brimsmead, the first
minister of Marlborough, was a native of Dorchester, a member of
the class that graduated at Harvard College, in 1648, but who left
with several others in the precetllng year, without a degree, in con-
sequence of dissatisfaction with the regulation then introduced of
requiring a residence of four years instead of three. He was em-
ployed as a preacher, at Marlborough, as early as 1660 ; was after-
wards, in 1665, after several months probation, invited to settle in
Plymouth, with an offer of jC70 salary and firewood, which he de-
clined, and was ordained at Marlborough, October 3d, 1666.
John Cotton, Esq. of Plymouth, in his history of that town,
(1760) speaks of him as '-a well acomplished servant of Christ."
He preached the Election Sermon, 1681, on Jer. 6. 8. which
was printed. His salary in Marlborough was from 40 to JE45 per
annum.
It appears from the following record that he was unahlc to sup-
ply the pulpit during the latter part of his life. "May 6, 1700.
Voted, to send to Cambridge for a candidate for the ministry."
"July 12. Voted unanimously, by church and town, to invite
Mr. Swift to help with our present pastor, if God shall raise him up."
At the same time a committee was chosen " to procure a place
to remove their minister to, and to provide him a nurse." (Mr.
Brimsmead had no family of his owq to provide for him, having
never been married.)
HISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGIl. G 1
"December IG, 1700. a committee was chosen to treat our Rev.
pastor, with reference to tlie arrears yet in his account that con-
cern the town, and to bring an account of all that is behind, Irom
the beginning of the world to the end of November, 1699."
Mr. Swift having negatived the call, Mr. Joseph Morse was in-
vited to settle as colleague with Mr. Brimsmead. Rev. Mr. Brims-
mead died on Commencement morning, July 3d, 1701, and was bu-
ried in " the old grave yord,"''' where a large unlettered stone was
erected to his memory, which still remains, and is almost the only
memorial that remains of " this venerable servant of Jesus Christ."!;
Soon after the death of Mr. Brimsmead, Mr. John Ejnerson, after-
wards settled in Portsmouth, N. H.J was invited to be the minister
of Marlborough, but declined the invitation.
At length, after a long controversy respecting Mr. Emerson,
which was carried on with a good deal of asperity, June 1st, 1704,
Mr. Robert Brecic, son of Capt. John Breck, of Dorchester, gradu-
ated at Harvard College, in 1700, received an invitation to take
the pastoral charge of the society, which he accepted, and was or-
dained, October 24th, 1704,
Rev. Mr. Breck remained pastor of the church at Marlborough
* The following^ inscription is placed over the remains of the first peraon
who was buried in tht old burying ground in Marlborough.
" Capt. Edward Hutchinson aged 67 years, was shot by treacherous In-
dians, August 2d, 1675, died, August 19th, 1675."
Capt. Edward Hutchinson was mortally wounded by the Indians, Au-
gust 2cJ, at a place called Menimimisset, about four or five miles from Quabo-
ag (Brookfield) to which place he had been sent with twenty horsemen by
the Governor and Council, for the purpose of conciliating the Nipmucks, to
many of whom he was personally known. It appears that they conducted
themselves towards hioi with the basest treachery. The Sachems had sig-
nified their readiness to treat with the English, but it must be with Capt.
Hutchinson himself. Having been conducted by a treacherous guide to the
place where two or three hundred of the Indians lay in ambush, they sud-
denly issued from a swamp, fell upon Capt. Hutchinson, and his unsuspecting-
associates, shot down eight of the company, and mortally wounded three more,
among whom was Capt. H. himself. Capt. Hutchinson was a son of the cel-
ebrated Mrs. Ann Hutchinson, who occupies so conspicuous a place in the
early history of New England. He was also the great grandfather of Thomas
Hutchinson, Governor of the Massachusetts colony and the historian of Mas-
sachusetts. Savage's Winthrop, 1. 249.
tRev. Mr. Brimsmead's house stood in a lot of land on the west side of
Ockoocangansett hill, adjoining to said hill. Tradition says, that he uniform-
ly refused baptism to children who were born on the Sabbath.
|Rev. John Emerson was first (1703) ordained as pastor of the church at
Newcastle, New Hampshire, dismissed in 1712, and installed pastor of the
South Parish in Portsmouth, March 23d, 1715, died June 2l5t, 1732, aged 62.
Mr. Emerson was a native of Ipswich and was graduated at Harvarcl Univer-
sity, in 1609. 1. Hist. Col. X. 53.
U<- HISTORY OF NOKTIIBOnoUGH.
luenfy seven years, nnd died, January (i, 1731, in Uie midst of his
d:iys ;in(J usefulness, at (he iifje of forty nine years, universally la-
mented.
A handsome monument was erected to his memory, near that
of his predecessor, containing tlie following inscription in La(in, to
which we subjoin, at llie recpiest of many, a translation into Engli-ih.
INSCRIi'TION.
Kellquias terrestres theologi vere vcnerandi Roberti Brock sub
hoc tumulo conferuntur. Pars ccclestis ad coelurn myriadura ange-
lorum et ad spiritus justorum qui perfect! sunt abiit.
Ingenii penetrants, quoad vires natnrales, vir fuit amplissimai
mentis et judi:ii solidi, una cum animi fortitudine singulari. (^{^uo-
ad partes acquisitas spectat, in Unguis quas doctai priesertim [uiuU-
■unt ?) admodum neritus ; literarum politarum mensura parum com-
muui instructus ; et, quod aliis I'uit dillicile, ille, virtute ingenii pro-
prii et studiis coarctis, folicitersubegit. In omnibus Theologiye par-
tibus versatissimus, et vere orthodoxus, Scriba ad regnum ca;lo-
rum usquequaque inslitutus. OlTicio pastorali in ecclesia Marlbur-
iensi, ubi Spiritus Sanctus ilium constituit episcopum, per XXVII
annos, fideliter, sedulo, pacitice, multaque cum laude, functus est.
Doctric.a; Kevelatae, una cum cultu et regimine in Ecclesiis Nov-
Anglicanis instituto, assertor habilis et strenuus. Ad consilia danda
in rebus arduis, tum publicis turn privatis, integritate conspectus et
prudentia instructissimus. Sincere dilexit amicos, patriam, et uni-
versam Christi ecclesiam.
Denique pietatis, omnis yirtutis socialis, et quoad res terrenas
moderaminis, exemplar.
In doloribus asperis segritudhils ultimo patientia ejus opus per-
fectum habuit ; et, si non ovans, expectans tamcn et placide disces-
sit. Natus Decem.'^ 7 ■"" 1682.
Dcnatus Januar. 6 '° 1731.
Prophetae ip?i non in seculum vivunt.
TRANSLATION OF THE ABOVE.
Beneath this stone are deposited llie mortal remains of the tru-
ly reverend Robert Breclv. His immortal part hath ascended to
heaven to join the inniimcrable company of angels and the spirits
of the just made perfe.ct.
He was by nature a man of acute intellect, capacious mind and
soliii judgment, together with singular mental resolution. As to his
attainments, he was eminently skilled in the learned languages, fa-
miliar beyond the common measure with polite literature : and.
HISTORY OF NOKTJILOllUl.'c;ri. 03
what to others was ('iiflicull, he by llie powers of his luiiiil, and close
application to study, acconiplis^hcd \vi(h ease.
Thoroui^hly versed in every department of thcohiiry, and trul}'"
orthodox in sentiment, he was a scribe in every res[iect instructed
unto the kino^doni of lieavcn.
Tlie duties of tlie pastoral office in the church at Marlborough,
over which the Holy Ghost had made, him overseer, he discharged
faithfully and assiduously, in peace and with great reputation, for
twenty seven years.
He was a skilful and able assertcr of the doctrines of revelation
and of the worship and discipline of the New England Churches.
lie was a counsellor in cases of ditliculty, both public and pri-
vate, of distinguished uprightness and consummate prudence.
He was a sincere lover of his friends, his country, and the whole
Church of Christ.
In a word, he was a model of piety, of every social virtue, and
of moderation in regard to earthly things.
la the severe pains of his last sickness, his patience had its per-
fect work; and his departure, if not in triimiph, was full of liope
and peace. Born Dec. 7th, 1G82 — Died Jan. 6th, 1731.
" Even the prophets do not live forever."
Rev. Robert Brack was regarded as one of the eminent minis-
ters of his day. He preached the Election Sermon in 1728, from
Deut. V. 29, which was printed. Another of his printed sermons,
which is still in existence, was preached in Shrewsbury, on the 15th
of June, 1720, and was the iirst sermon preached in that town.*
His only other publications, so far as they have come to our knowl-
edge, were two excellent sermons, addressed particularly to young
persons, and which were preached to his people in 1 728, on occa-
sion of a large accession to his church of about tifty persons. The
former is on the danger of religious declension, from Luke ix. 61,
G2 : the latter was preparatory to the observance of the Lord's
Supper, from Leviticus, x. o.
Three luneral discourses preached at Marlborough, on occasion
of his death, one by Rev. John Swift of Framingham, another by
Rev. John Prentice, of Lancaster, and the third by Rev. Israel Lor-
ing of Sudbury, were published, and are now extant.
It appears, from a note to Mr. Prentice's discourse, that during
*See the history of Shrewsbury, iu the IVlay Number of tliis Journal, [>.
16, by And.'-ew II. Ward, Esq.
1 am inforaied by Itcv. Wni. i;. Sprngue, of West Sprin-ficUl, that he ha?
in his pohsefsion n cojiy of this discouric.
C4 msToiiY OK Kor.TiiBonotoii.
the sickness of Mr. Brack, October 15, 1730, a diiy oi' lustioif
and prayer was kept in Marlborough for liis recovery ; " several of
the neighboring ministers being present and assisting on tliat sol-
emn occasion."
A respectful and able notice of Rev. Robert Breck was given
in the Weekly Journal, No. CC. for Jan. 10, 1731, which is sub-
joined to the discourse of Mr. Prentice ; and another well written
memoir was published in the Boston Weekly Nevvs Letter, No.
IWO, for Jan. 21, 1731, which forms an appendix to Rev. Mr. Lov-
ing's discourse.
" His temper was grave and thoughtful, and yet cheerful at
times, especially with his friends and acquaintance ; and his conver-
sation entertaining and agreeable.
" In his conduct, he was prudent and careful of hie character,
both as a minister and a christian ; rather sparing of speech, and
more inclined to hear and learn from others.
" His house was open to strangers, and his heart to his friends ;
and he took great delight in entertaining such, as he might any
ways improve by, and treated them with good manners.
" The languishment and pains he went through before his deatlx
were very great; but God enabled him to bear the aHliction with
patience and submission.
"He was interred on the 12th with great respect and lamenta-
tion, and his affectionate people were at the charge of his funeral;
and it is hoped they will continue their kindness to the sorrowful
widow and orphans."*
Rev. Robert Breck had a son of the same name, who was grad-
uated at Harvard University, in 1730, was ordained as minister of
Springfield, Jan. 26, 1736, and died April 23, 1784, in the 7 1st year
of his age.j
The father was married in Sept. 1707, to Miss Elizabeth Waic-
wright, of Haverhill, who died, June 8, 1736. They had six chil-
dren, two of whom died before their father. Of those that surviv-
ed him, Robert was minister of Springfield ; Sarah was married to
Dr. Benjamin Gott, of Marlborough ; Hannah was married to Rev.
Ebenezer Parkman, of Westborough ; Elizabeth, the eldest daugh-
ter, was married to Col. Abraham ^Yilliams, of Marlborough, and
* Rev. Mr. Dreck lived on or near the same spot on which Rev. Mr. Pack-
ard's dwelling house was afterwards erected.
t See Rev. Wm. B. Spragfue's Historical Discourse, delivered at West
.Springfield, Dec. 2, 1824, p. 78,00.
UlSTOnv OF NORTMBOROrcIT. Gil
dieJ two years before her father, Jan. 1729. The name of llie oth-
er child that survived the father was Samuel, wiio was a surgeon
in the arnny during' the French war. He married at Springfield,
and died, 1764.
The following account of the successors of Rev.JIr. Breck, was fur-
nished principally by Rev. Seth Alden, of Marlborough.
After an interval of nearly three years from the death of Mr.
Breck, viz. Oct. 1733, Rev. Benjamin Kent was ordained as the
minister of Marlborouglj, and on Feb. 4, 1735, was dismissed by
mutual consent. After his dismission, Mr. Kent brought an action
against the town for the recovery of his settlement, which the
court allowed him. The town appears to have suffered much
about this time I'rom intestine divisions, which prevented the set-
tlement of a minister for the five years succeeding the dismission
of flir. Kent.
At length, June II, 1740, Rev. Aaron Smith received ordina-
tion, and was dismissed by reason of ill heath, April 29, 1778. Af-
ter his dismission. Mr. Smith went to reside with Rev. Mr. Bridge
of East Sudbury, who married his daughter, and died there.
Rev. Asa Packard, from Bridgevvater, succeeded him, and was
ordained, March 23, 1785, and April 10, 1806, was dismissed, in
consequence of an unhappy division in the town relating to the lo-
cation of a new church. This division led to an Ecclesiastical
Council called by the Church, which resulted, Oct. 24, 1806, that
in case the minority should obtain an act of incorporation as a dis-
tinct society, then, without breach of covenant, those members
of the church who should unite themselves with such Incorpora-
tion, might become a regular and distinct church, by the name
of the West Church in Marlborough.
After much opposition, such inhabitants did obtain .in act of in-
corporation on the 23d of Feb. 1808, by the name of the second
parish in Marlborough ; and on the 5th of the following month, a
church was duly ordained. Over this church and society. Rev.
Asa Packard was installed, March, 23, 1808, and remained their
Pastor till May 12, 1819, when, by mutual consent, he was regu-
larly dismissed. Mr. Packard now resides with his family in Lan-
caster.
Rev. Soth Aldeo, from Bridgewatcr, a graduate of Brown Uni-
versity, 1814, was ordained as the successor of Mr. Packard, Nov.
3, 1819, and still remains their Pastor.
Over the East Church and first parish, Rev. Sylvester F. Buck-
60 IIISTORV OK NORTIlCOncUoH.
lin, ("com Keliobulli, now Seckonk, a grailimle of Ijinwti Univcis'ity,
1C05, thoir present Fiislor, was ordained, Nov. 2, 18U8.
liesidfis the two Congregational Societies above mentioned,
there is n society of Universalists in the town, without a slated
J'astor, and a small society of Mcthodibts. The person at present
preaching witii the former is Rlassena B. Dallou ; with the latter,
Jared Haskins.
vThe preceding sketches have been made up from materials col-
lected from various sources. The aged fathers of this and some
of the neighboring towns have been consulted as opportunity olTer-
ed ; and several of the descendants of the early settlers of Marl-
borough, have kindly furnished many valuable pajjers relating to
the events of former days, and wiiich have been handiul down Irom
lather to son, for three or four^uccessive generations. The writ-
er would particularly acknowledge bis obligations to Rev. ftlessrs.
Bucklin and Alden, for the aid they have rendered him ; as also to
Mr. Silas Gates for the use of the copious and very valuable records
in his possession, inherited through liis wife (daughter of the late
Goorgo Williams) from her grandfather Col. Abraham Williams,
who, for many years, was the clerk of the proprietors of the En-
glish Plantation of Marlborough.
The writer has also had opportunity to consult the books of
records of the proprietors of the Indian Plantation, now in the pus-
session of Mr. John Weeks.
He has aimed at accnracy ; but fears, where so much rgsts on
mere tradition, or memory not le-^s treacherous, that many eirors
besides those of the press, have become incorj)ora(ed in the his-
tory. For these he craves the indulgence of his readers.
tRR.ATA.
Page 11, end of first paragrapli — '1 lie new meeting house was erected in
1!305, the old one taken ilown in lijU'J : page 15, '22d line from top, for iJochcs-
t(T read Dorchester ; page (io, !20th line from toj), for Asa Gooilenow read
Thomas Goodenow ; page 'JO, i'th line, for I'ond read Uoad ; page. 27, 1st
line, for IVlarll)oroui:h read Norlhborough ; on the tame page, tlie Cd para-
graph of the note should lie in the place of tlie first, and for himon read Sime-
on ; page 28, 1st line of the note, for persons read garrison ; page .i9, iu4lli
line of 2d note, for Simeon read Simon ; page 43, in 'M note, r( ad, .lames and
John Eager were sons, and Cutler and Marlyn sons-iti-law of John Eager, Jr.
and grandiOQS of Capt. Johu Eager.
p
.#^
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